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1 

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SUPPLEMENT 


««i^ 


TO  TH9 


X 


\MERICAN 


AKO 


OMMnnCIM  DJULT  .WVMRTISER 


IN  EXPOSITION 


OiP  THE 


CAUSES   AND  CHAllACTER 


OP  Vtlft 


ATE  WAR  WITH  G.  BBITAIN* 


Baltimore,  April  1815. 


\\ 


X^iMbVk  ^ 


>  \^v>>*W 


AN  EXPOSITION 

OK  TUB 

i.\iusi:s.iXD  ciUR.iCTr.n 

01  TlIS 


I,ATB  WAR  WITH  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

„f  *\,a  Wrliish  commissioners 

r  llnceB,  and  to  be  treated  as  .  civilized  people  - 
;L  of  civil  society  to  which  the  ^an  tr^a.    .» 
the  attempt  to  cut  off  a  sect.oD  «f/"''^^^"    ^^   'f",^hich  there 
--raroadhetweenC^^^^^^^^^ 
would  be  no  need  .r.  peace  and  wlu.  u  jvi^,,achusett 

upon  us  during  ^^'■-'^'^''"  °''''.*       -^    .  rowl  e.i.ns  on  O. 
/„n»ole.,tcd  by  the  state  -thoray-the.    ^-^^^^^^^^^  ^,  ,^, 

loans:  all  these  and  other  ^^^'^^^^X^y  part  of  th. 
V.  States,  left  1H^I«  P-«P-\;^^^^  rr^o  ernn^ent  was  apprised 

^T\rJf  W:  la!' ;^r  Xpeafecould  have  been  ace.. 
rn  the  <•  lose  of  the  last  i  ,„co«rai-.mf«f  wuch 

plisbedmAugus  18li  were^^^^^^^^^^        ^^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^   j,,^^^^^^ 

the  B-.it.sh  ^"V";;7^  J      ;'    t„  these  views,  the  cxce.Uve 
atatrs  to  persevere  in  the  war  ^^^^  ^,„«;(fln 

had  dcter.n:aed  to  -^^^  ^  ^  ;;  / ^^^^^^^^^  country  the  ea.es 

eertain  expulsion  of  the  enemy  from  a  »  h.«  po  . 

continent.     The  measure^  P?P"r]f  thi  sin"  f  vigorous  mea- 
for  raising  100,000  ine.,^a^^  l^n  ^^  ^^'^P  "^^^^^^^  ^o  go  '-o 

.ures;  and  a  deeWion' .r  -P-^j;^'  .nwhentU 
the  public  ;  Ihi.  ablepaper  ^^ ;f^J;'ZLi--^  copy  ofit 
,  lv-,ces  .f  a  peace  being  concluded  -^''^  ^7;^. „^  J',,^  ,„ 
k«  accidentally  fallen  into  our  ^af  ^  -^  ^  ^^^^^^  „,.^,,, 

^unatioD  of  the  vM.-*^Aurora. 


I  ION 


ICTEli 


EAT  BIUTAIN. 

le  British  commissioners 

inlcifcve  v.ilh  the  lerri. 

:eof  irSj-lhtir  aUouipt 

on>'  fioil  were  entitW  to 
ivilizcd  people,  < 
an  tribes  are  slr& 

territory,  under  the  pre- 
vaScotiti,  for  which  there 
ould  afford  them  an  inroac 
ofapartofMassachusctt? 
leir  known  deigns  on  Oi- 
i  to  the  government  of  the 
ceinthccailypartoftha 
government  was  apprized 
,ce  could  have  hccn  accom. 
r  the  encoura'icrnent  winch 
•cm  three  of  the   Kastern 
these  views,  the  cxccUive 
iial  appeal  to  the  Amerkan 
w  to  the  country  the  caiscs 
he  necessity  of  such  mi'h- 
,  campaign  of  this  yeat,  as 
Tiphant  termination  hy  the 
n  all  his  posscssioi 

by   the  Secretary 
f  this  plan  of  vigorous  mea- 

tion  was  prepared  to  go  '-o 
dy  for  publication  when  tic 
were  received— a  copy  ofit 
kds,  and  we  think  wc  can  lo 
■  public,  as  the  best  meaOHot 
ose  whose  chagrin  is  ei"»d 
6  9UCce»6fuUD<3glorio'J»tr- 


^.V  EXrOSITIOX  C^c. 


Whatever  may  he  the  termination  of  tfie  ncirnriations  nt 
nhent,  the  dispatches  of  the  American  coniniissivyiircs,  which 
have  been  communicated  by  tJic  President  of  tljn  I'liitt'd  Slates 
to  Congress,  during  the  present  sc.'-slon,  uill  ('istinclly  nnl'old 
to  the.impirtial  of  all  nations,  the  objects  and  dispofeitiong  of 
th"  parties  to  the  present  war. 

-  oe  United  States,  relieved  by  the  general  pscillcation  of 
the  treaty  of  Paris,  from  tlic  danger  of  actual  suflerance,  umler 
'he  evils  which  had  compelled  them  to  re*iort  to  arnis,  liave  a- 
■  owed  their  readine=.i  to  resimie  the  relations  of  pcaee  and  uini- 
H'  with  Grout  llrilaiii.  upuntlie  simple  and  single  cuiiiition  ol 
T"escrving  their  tertitory  and  their  sovereignty  entire  anci  un- 
impaired. Thc>ir desire  of  pence,  indeed,  "upon  terms  of  reel 
frocity,  consistent  with  the  ri;j;hts  of  both  parties,  as  sovere*^n 
av,d  independent  nations,"*  ha^  not,  at  uny  time,  been  iiiih.ciie- 
cd  by  the  piovocatiaiis  of  an  unprecedented  course  of  hostili- 
ti«i ;  by  the  ineitentients  of  a  successful  campaign  ;  or  by  the  a 
g  atkms  which  h;ive  seemed  again  to  tJircaten  the  traiiquiiity 
o'  Fiirope. 

ii'.t  the  IJri'ish  go-crnmont.  after  "  a  discussion  with  the  go- 
vivntnent  of  America,  for  the  conciliatory  adjustment  of  th« 
difvrancec  subsifting  bftwcer  the  two  states,  witJi  an  earnest 
deire  on  their  pni-l  (as  it  was  alledged)  (o  bring  them  to  a  fiivo 
rable  issue,  upon  principles  of  a  perfect  reciprocity,  not  imon- 
eisentwith  the  c?tr-bli»hed  maxims  of  public  law,  and  with  the 
m-uintiine  rights  of  the  British  empire  ;'"f  and  alUr  "  expres^lv 
dicLlaiming  any  intention  to  acquire  an  incref>so  of  trrritiMy,'"^ 
haT»  TDCscmptorily  demanded,  as  the  price  of  peace,  concessions 
ited  merely  for  their  own  agiirandiremeiil,  and  for  the 
'ition  of  tlieir  adversary.  At  one  time,  ilu-y  proposed,  np 
n  qra  nnii.,  a  stijrulaticn  that  the  IndirnsiijiiahitiNE  fJie 
'-.'.i  v_y  of  tlie  United  Staffs,  within  the  limit?  otrbiiilud  bv 
tie  treaty  of  I7i.,:>,  should  be  iiu  lurked  as  the  nilJos  of  G'Wt 
.Inta^T.  (a.party  to  that  treaty*  in  tl-..  pr-iected  pacifcation  :  ar,<? 
tnai  the  dcfinile  boundari-s  should  he  pcttird  for  tiic  Indian  ter- 
i«tcry.  in.tm  a  bnsi^-  which  would  have  operated  to  snrrencierto 
in'imberof  Indians,  no!  prol.nblv,  exceeding  a  few  thou. -iinds 
•lep^rhts  of    sovereignty,    a?  well  as  of   soil,    over  nenilv  ore 

\'.'ll„i''' *"'""'^''*"''^'  dominions  of  the  l^iifed  States,  inhabit- 

*  -vc  M;-.  MfHiroc 


Ir'tri 


t"  !i>rcl  Casr'ere.'icch,  Haic^d  Jnniiav',-,  I8I4. 


.  xclord  CiBtleiCiglrs  letter  to  Mr,  Muiu-oc,  ciutAl  the  4<h  o"t  Suvcuht- 
♦  «e  tJie  .American  Uispitet,.  dat.-vi  XUi  lV,*.h  of  A^iguct,  1814. 


® 


® 


® 


C'J 


® 


(!)■— 


0 


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„»U.e,  cither  ■•if  ""''ly '^H, "  op«o..    but  .he  w»,it.  tie 
end  it,  has  beei.  fa'*  6"-™.  ,<»'!. ZXn.ion.  .re  awtkend, 

Sue^UTy  the  -h-es  of  -^^^^^^^  country  as 

There  are  pcr.ode  in  the  ^'^^^^^  j  ^^^^  examination 
well  as  in  the  hfe  of  every  \»^!^^';'^*':  to^  ^vhen  the  go- 
becomes  a  duty  of  the  highest  .^'^V^  "J/  S^'p^^h  of  peace,  md 
vernment  of  a  free  people,  d"\«"  f.'°"' ^'^^P^^oh  for  con^la- 
baffled  in  every  effort  to  regam  il,  "^^^^^/^^^^d  «'hen  an 
tion  to  the  e.m.cious  rcc Mtude  of  ^'^^^^^^^^^i.e,  cannot  fail 
anneal  to  .nai.kuid  founded  "F«n  ^'^^^^^  «'!  .mlions  are  l^d  lo 
ti  en-age  those  sympathies  by  ^'^"^^  ^^j;,'' "  ugr  The  Juit- 
vu^U-Tp^te  in  the  tame  »nd  fortunes  of  ac^.  othe'  l^h^.^^^  ^^ 
cd  Stales,   under  these  impro.s  ons,   a.c  neitn^^^^^  .^^ 

the  advantH^s,  nor  to  ti^e  cU>.  e«  of  the     Pec^  ^j,^,^  i,aq>end  ■ 
They  have  but  --^f^^tly,  a    a  vvc.c^a  ^.^^  ^^  ^ 

,„,e;  and  the  volume  of  th^.naU.na   ^    .^^.^^^^^  ,^.„efore. 
clancc,  to  ever  eye.     1  he  po  ic>  oi  u«c     ^  ^  .^^  ^^^pg, 

Cvbatever  it  has  been,  in   he.r  lorei^n  -s  « cl  asm  .^^^^ 

c  relations,  it  i.  impossible  ^o  7;'^<^?^-  ;^^^';t  V^  nolicy  o  prc- 
to  mistake.     ^^  ^ho  as.ertu.ju  that  it  has  t,e  .^^^  ^.^,^  j,^ 

serv^  peace  and  am.ty  uUh  «1\»^'«,  ""''^^g^rtion,  thai  it  has 
doubted,  the  proofBare  »  l^'^^.t^^J*;/'  i^l'iJ  .Ited  Sta^.,  but 
been  a  policy  to  mamtam  th°  r.^hU  o^  t^  ,tlier  nation ,  be 
at  the  same  time  to  '-e^P-f  ^'^'^^^f^^  'k  the  assertion,  that  it 


(.•    1-  •' a 

;  21st  (it  Aui;u.-.(, 


nolo  of  iIk 


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d  of  its  citi*en».ll      And 
ct,  that  proposition)  ther 
the  uti  iiossidetis  ;  whc, 
md  obtained  ihc  miliUv 
he  state  of  Massachusett, 
ethe  subject  of  a  cessioi, 
1  of  the  American  govefh 
Oreat  Britain,  neither  r- 
.  recipiooity,"  nor  the  rue 
has  indulged  pretension, 
to  be  lejccted.     The  alte- 
■t  the  war,  or  honorably  o 
Dption;  but  she  want*  tie 
jprchensions  are  awakcnel, 
Vienna,  and  her  hopes  ne      . 
3t  in  America, 
itio-.isof   every  country  aa 
ual,  when  self  examinafton 
il  obligation;  when  theg;c>- 
from  the  path  of  peace,  ind 
it     mav  resort  for  conala- 
1 8  measures;  and  when  p.n 
ruth  and  justice,  cannot  taw 
hich  even  nations  are  W  to 
8  of  each  other.     The  Juit- 
,s,   arc  neither  insensible  tc 
f  their  pecviliar  situatDn.— 
,  established  their  iiidepend- 
ional  bietary  lies  open  at  u. 
tljeir  Eovernment,  theiefore, 
iu„  ns  well  39  in  their  fomes- 

,cea1;anditinustbedflicult 
t  it  has  been  a  policy  o  prc- 
he  nations  of  the  wcrld  be 
If  the  assertion,  tha'  it  has 
\,U  of  thrt  United  States  but 
rhts  of  every  otlier  nation  be 
fted  If  the  assertion  that  u 
ally'  towards  the  bellig'vei.l 
e  Jrc.fs  will  be  found  mre- 
,and  and  of  France.  And.f.in 

|,V.pM»!4:   t;>f  note  t)f  Ne  Vn."- 
dV.«.a\U31s'.'jf  Oct.  18U. 


:lnc,  the  afesprtion  that  it  hai  been  a  policy,  by  all  honorable 
means,  to  cultivate  with  Great  Biiliiin  those  sentiments  of  nui- 
fuHl  good  will  which  naturally  belong  to  nations  connected 
by  the  tics  of  a  common  ancestry,  an  identity  of  language,  and 
a  similarity  of  manners,  be  doubted,  the  proofs  will  bo  found  in 
*hat  patient  forbaarancc,  under  the  pressure  of  accumulating 
wrongs,  which  marks  the  period  of  almost  thirty  years,  that  e- 
lapsed  between  the  peace  of  1783,  and  the  rupture  of  1812 

The  United  States  had  ju»t  recovered,  under  the  auspices  of 
theif  present  constitulion,  from  the  debility  which  their  revolit- 
tionary  struggle  had  produced,  wlicn  the  convulsive  move- 
ments of  France  excited  throu)j,hout  the  civilized  world  tha 
mingled  seiisationHof  hope  and  fear — of  admiration  and  alarm. 
The  interest  which  those  movements  would,  in  themselves,  have 
excited,  was  incalculably  increased,  however,  as  soon  as  Great 
Britam  became  a  party  to  the  first  memorable  coalition  against 
France,  and  assumed  the  character  of  a  belligerent  power  ;  for, 
it  was  obvious,  that  Lhc  distance  of  the  scene  would  no  longer 
exempt  the  United  States  from  the  influence  and  the  evils  of 
the  European  conflict  On  the  one  hand,  their  government 
was  connected  with  France  by  treaties  of  alliance  and  com- 
merce ;  and  the  service!  which  that  nation  had  rendered  to  the 
cause  of  American  independence,  bad  made  such  impressions 
upon  the  public  mind,  as  no  virtuous  statesman  could  rigidly 
condemn,  and  the  most  rigorous  statesman  would  have  sought 
in  vain  to  efface.  On  the  other  hand.  Great  Britain,  leaving 
the  treaty  of  1783  unex«cute4],  forcibly  retained  the  American 
posts  upon  the  northern  frontier ;  and,  slightini;  every  overture 
to  place  the  diplomatic  and  commercial  relations  of  the  two 
countries  upon  a  fair  ftnd  friendly  foundation.f  seemed  to  con- 
template the  success  of  the  American  revolution;  in  a  spirit  of 
unextinguishable  animosity.  Hervoicehad,  indeed,  been  heard 
from  Qiii'bp.c  and  Montreal,  instigating  the  savages  to  war  J— 
Her  invisible  arm  was  felt  in  the  defeats  of  general  Harmerlj 
and  general  St  Clair,}  and  even  the  victory  of  general  WaynelT 
was  achieved  in  tl»'i  presence  of  a  fort  which  she  had  erected, 
far  within  tlMt  ten  itorial  boundaries  of  the  United  States,  to  sti- 
mulate and  countenance  the  barbarities  of  the  Indian  warrior.** 
Yet  the  American  government,  neither  yielding  to  popular 
feeling,   nor  acting  upon  the  impulse  of   national   resentment, 

hastened  to  adopt  the  policy  of  a  strict  and  steady  neutralitv 

and  solem.ilv  announced  that  policy  to  the  citizens  at  home,  and 
to  the  nations  abroad,  by  the  proclamation  of  the  22d  of  April, 
179,1     Whatever  may  have  been  the  trials  of  its  pride^  and  of 

f  See  .Mr.  .■Vdams's  corre^pondrnce. 

*  See  the  speeclics  of  lord  Dei  Chester. 

K  On  the  waters  of  the  Miami  of  the  like,  on  the  21st  of  Octobor,  1790. 

h  At  Fort  recovery,  on  the  4tli  of  Noveudier,  17i.l. 

11  On  the  M:ami  of  li.kts,  in  August  J794. 

••  See  the  correspondence  between  Mr.  Ka-idolph.the  Amcr'ean  secretary, 
ef  state,  and  Mr.  Hammond,  ilje  British  pJeiiipotentiarT,  dated  .Mav  and 
June,  179-t. 


® 


© 


® 


0 


O 


® 


® 


o 


o 


ij) 


© 


® 


® 


© 


G 


I',  rortitu-lc;  whatever  may  have  bcfnlhr  -^rP"  ;^t.«nB  upo  .  .  « 
■1  htv  -ind  its  honor,  it  will  Im-  ciernon.trar.  d  ,n  the  ...(.v.-!.  h^t 
he  Afneric  vn  '  ov  r  ...cat,  throu.h..nr,  lb.  Ku.o.oun  .-mlo 

.eotialiy  the  expoK.t.on  ^^'''^^.^^^''''^jj.t  ej^.^i-ience  has  show.., 
treaties  of  commerce  ami  alhaLce.   »*;'^  ^''^  .^  „^,,  ,„  i,e 

.>-.  t  rh"  i'on*»(!i;nce  and  rPHpect  ot    i.reai  uiiiam  ui^  « 
that  fh-^/-on..(  ti^ce  •  '    .^^tialitv  and  uidrpcmlencc      Un- 

"Tr^blf  tanat Irc  cdent  periodn.    that...  exc.up. ion  ln,m 
{;;-^^^i^^u..n.tion   and  th^^^^ 

an  order  of  the  8th  ot  June    •       ^  ^  .^  ^^^^ 

:r  ii^;:^^e.  "o3£  u  poru^ 

there,  or  security  ^va«   o  be  gwen  th^U  -J^  ^^J^^^j^^  „.„j,,,,  * 

in  the  ports  of  a  ««""^';y '"  J^Xian  to  inflict  famine  upon 

The  -<^'-,^»  f^J^-^^^^ench  pe'^^^^^^^^^      at  that  time,  properly  es- 
the  whole  ot  the  Irencn  pe;'l'^'  .  .        glaving  an  in- 

t,i,nated  throughout  ^.^° -^'''^^J^^?  i'  sh  orSer  w  s  caUlated 
fraction  of   "^"^'"'^  "£'^*' ^^  ,v^^^^^^^  diplomatic  animad- 

to  p,-odnce  did  not  esc  pe  t»^Jf;\2  agaression   was  soon  fol- 
vei-s  on  and  rcmonstva.icc.     liiu  ""\J^^     ,     the, war  of  1'J6«  ' 
,„wed  hy  another  of   a  '"ore  hostae  ca»t^  thc.uTe  that'neutvA 
Great  B.-itain  had  "^"Jjl^y^,;^  ^  °.,^X  bene   t^^       a  trade  with 
nations  were  not  ent   led  to  «"J2..\v,.m  which  in  the  .reason 
th.  colonies  of  a  belhgercn   P^^^';  '  ""\.;,;t  ,tate      The  rule 
of  peace,  they  ^^*^ '^^J'^'^'^l^  XZZytcu^^^^^ 
,J,.  without  -y,«f -VZt"som:"r:;t^ef ;::..tuin  stipul/- 
on  pubhclaw.     It  .t  »»  i  «•-        ,<,,i„  pvrlnde  each  otlier  frum 
tions,  by  .which  the  part.cs  ^^^^I'^^l^^f^^^^^^^  tha. 

the  comuiercc  ot  thc.r  «-«*Pf!=^  f^jfX  '""vide  for  the  exclu- 

-s^?;r:^^:^  :i;d^.l^«ances.  w.. . . 

"—"0.1.  .n  counciUf  tl.c  8tU  of  June.  179.^  a..d  th.  rea.onsl.anc* 
of  t-iitt  Aiiiciicun  guvei-iimtnt' 


© 


(1) 


hr  iBV,nU.itienB  upon  .to 
muA  \\\  the  s^.i'v;!.  'hat 
till'  l-<ii-.'t)po:in  (■t)L'\U>.->t, 
cts  and  tsc  parties  that 
ve  inflexibly  adhered  l(> 
ritativol}-,  eslablislied  lo 

(clainalion  of  nculraluv, 
»  have  bei-n  dcccribt.d, 
sped  of  (ireat  JJritain, 
ince,  ahcoiitraveiiiriT;  «3- 
iiix>iu«  '<)  bi'hlow  on  llie 
t  expfvience  has  »liown, 
eat  Ui-ilain  arc  not  to  be 
and  iiuU'pcndencc.  Vn- 
can  izoveinment,  tlie  ex- 
iviuif-nt  has  been  e«mally 
:t\ially  aseertaitied  in  tha 

thai  :in  exemption  from 
merciiil  monopoly  of  G. 
Iio  condition  of  becoming 
i-ars.  Wfiile  the  procla- 
e\v  of  the  British  minTster, 
iiicd  from  the  cabinet,  by 

wholly  or  in  part  with 
rt  in  France,  or  any  port 
ere  required  to  be  carried 
ie»  were  either  to  be  sold 
t  they  should  only  be  sold 
ih  his  Britannic  majesty  * 
sign  to  inflict  famine  upon 
at  thai  time,  properly  es- 
•Id  ;   and  so  glaring  an  in- 
■itish  order  was  calculated 
ties  of  diplomatic  animad- 
I  aggression   was  soon  fol- 
cast.     In  the  .war  of  I'Jft*  ' 
iblish  the  rule,  that  neutral 
i«  bcnelits  of  a  trade  with 
from  which,  in  the  seas.m 
V?  parent  state.      The  rule 
from  any  general  autliority 
ime  treaties  contain  stipula- 
y  exclude  each  otlier  from 
onies;  andif  it  betrne,  tha!. 
often  provide  for  the  extlu- 
neree  ;    still  Great  Britum 
rule  of  the  war  of  17r)(),  by 
such  ordnances,  while  it  is 

June.  17?^.",  and  the  remonslcaiiM 


U 


sT) 


n*,l  tnu-   tliot  the  rule  forms  ;i  part  of  lh»-  lew  ol  luitions ;  t\nt 
fhal  it  has  been  adopted  hy  any  other  Rovernnunl ;  nor  that  .v 
vrn  Great    Britain    her>-elf  his  uniformly    practised    upon  tho 
rule  ■  since  its  appli.ation  was  unkm-vvTi  from  the  v  ar  ot    I  <,.e, 
.mtil'the  French  w;,r  (if    17'.tJ,  including , the    cntne  pern.d  of 
the  Aiuericua  war.     Let  it  be,  arjiMmcnlatively,  a  lowfd.  how- 
,'V.>r  that  Groat  Britain  possesMHl  the  right,  as  w.  II  as  the  p^w- 
«,•  to  revive  and  enforce  the  rule;  yet,  the  time  and  the  inan- 
ner  of  cxercisinj;  the  powr,  would  alVord  ample  rai.»es   toi  re- 
proach.    The  cili/eHs  (ff  the  Tniled  Slates  had  open!)  .nfing- 
cdin  an  extensive  tnUliJ'«ith  the  French  isiunWs   in  the  A\  est 
Indies,  isnorant  of  the  aUud-ed  existence  ot  the  rule  ol  ihu  war 
of  KifKor  unappii^'dof   any  intention  to  call  it  into  aaion, 
when  the  order  otllse  6th  yf  Aox ember,  17^3  was  silently  cir- 
c-uhitcd  among th'  Biitish  cruisers,  consioniug  to  legal  adjudi 
.-ation  "  all  vessels  load^-n  with  goo.ls,  the  produce  oi  any  colo- 
ny of  France,  or  carrying  provisions  or  supplies  for  the  use  ot 
al.y  such  colony.-f      A  great  portion  of   the  commerce  ot    the 
United   States  was  thus  annihilated  at  a  blow;    the  amicable 
diMjositions  of  the  government  were  again  disregarded  and  con- 
temned; the  sensibility  of  the  nation  was  excited  to  a  high  dc 
erec  of  resentment,  by  the  apparent  treachery  of  the  British  or- 
der;  and  a  recourse  to  reprisals,  or-to  war,  for  indepmty  and 
redress,  seemed  to  be  unavoicfible.  But  the  love  of  justice  had  es- 
tablished  the  law  of  neutrality;  and  the  love  of  peace  tnugU  a 
lesson  of  forbearance.      The  American  government,  thevclore, 
rising  superior  to  the  provocations  anu  the  passions  of  the  day, 
instituted  a  special  mission  to  represent,  at  the  court  ot  London, 
the  injuries  and  the  indignities  which  it  had  auftVied  ;  "  to  vin- 
dicate its  rights  with  iirmncss,  and  to  cultivate  peace  with  sm-^ 
cerity."i:  The  immediate  result  of  this  mission,  was  a  treaty  of 
aniitv,  commerce,   and  navigation,  bvtween  the  Ui.iti  d  Staler 
andr.i-eat  Britain  which  was  signed  by  the  ntgociators  on  the 
19lh  of  November,  ^794,  and  finally  ratitied,  with  the  content 
of  the  Senate,  in  the  year  179.5.     But  both  the  mission  anci  its 
result,  serve  also  todisplay  the  independence  and  the  impartiali- 
ty of  the   American  government,   in    asserting  its   rights  ai.d 
performing  its  duties,  equally  unawed  and  unbiassed  by  the  ii. 
stiuments  of  belligerent  power  or  persuas-ion. 

On  the  foundation  of  this  treaty  tho  United  States,  m  a.  pure 
sprit  of  good  faith  and  confidence,  raised  tho  hope  and  the  e.x^ 
peetation,  th..t  the  maritime  usurpations  of  Great  Bv;lRin  v.ould 
Cf-asc  to  annoy  them  ;  that  all  doubtful  claims  of  Jarisd.ttion 
Mould  be  suspended  ;  and  that  even  the  exercise  of  an  iik  on- 
tistible  right  would  ht  so  modified,  as  to  present  neither  insult 


lor  outrage,  nor  incovenienoe,  to  their 


;irllagor  to  their  commerce  , 
of  the  United*  States  have. 


lut  the  hope  and  the  expectation 

jeen  fatally  disappointed.     Some  relaxation  in  the  rigor,  wUb- 


t  Sec  tlie  Pfiiish  orflor  of  the  6th  nf  Ncni  n,bcr,  1.  ^^-  ,   ,.  .  . 

{  See  the  preMaint's  mc^sa^e  tn  Uie  sftn:ire,  ot  '.lie  10th  of  Apr;l   1.  J-i 
noimnatint'  Mr.  Jay  as  envoy  cxiraordinury  tu  his  UJiUimic  nuijetiy. 


O 


O 


o 


o 


o 


o     - 


0 


o 


o 


o 


ovit  tny  aUeration  Tn  the  principle,  of  the  order  in  eouifeil  «if 
the  6th  November,  1793,  woh  introduced  hy  the  nubseqiient  or- 
dvri  of  the  Ith  of  January,  \79*,  andthe2jth  of  January,  1798: 
btit  from  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  of  1794,  until  the  short 
rCfpUe  afforded  by   the  treaty  of  Amiens,  in  1802,  the  cum- 
nerce  uf  the  United  ijtates  nontimied  to  be  the  prey  of  British 
cruisers  and  privateers,  under  the  adj^udiuating  patronage  of  the 
British  tribunals.  Another  grievance,  however,  asvumud  at  thia 
epoch  a  form  and  magnitude  which  caats  shade  over  the  social 
happtness,  us  wellas  the  politiciU  indept^ndence  of  the  nation -^ 
The  merchant  vessels  of  the  United  States  were  arrested  on  tho 
high  seas,  while  in  the  prosecution  of  distant  voyages;  consi- 
derable numbers  of  their  crews  were  impressed  into  the  naval 
nrvice  of  Orcat  Britain  ;  th«commercial  adventurcs.of  th»  own- 
ers were  often,  consequently,  defeated  ;  and  the  loss  of  proper 
ty,  the  embarrassments  of  trade  and  navigation,  and  the  stene 
of  domestic  aHHiction,  became    intolerable.      This    grievance 
(which  constitutes  an  important  surviving  cause  of  the  Ameri* 
can  declaration  of  war)  was  early,  and  has  been  incessantly,  ur- 
ged upon  tho  attention  of  the  Britiah  government.    Kvenin  the 
year  1792,  they  were  told  of  "  the  irritation  that  it  had  excited 
— and  of  the  diffienlty  of  nvoiding  to  make  immediate  reprisals 
on  their  seamen  in  the  United  States."||  They  were  told  "  that 
to  many  instances  of  the  kind  had  happened,  that  it  was  c^uite 
secesaary  that  they  should  explain  themselve»  on  the  subject, 
and  be  allowed  to  disavow  and  punish  such  violence,  which  had 
never  been  experienced  from  any  other  nation."{  And  they  were 
told  "  of  tho  inconvenience  of  such  conduct,  and  of  the  impossi- 
bility of  letting  it  go  on,  so  that  the  British  ministry  should  be 
mtde  sc&iiible  uf  the  necessity  ui*  punishing  the  p^ist,  aiiu  pre- 
venting tho  futuro,"f  But  after  the  treaty  of  amity,  commerce, 
and  navigation,  had  been  ratified,  the  nature  and  the  extent  of 
the  grievance  became  atill  more  manifest ;    and  it  was  clearly 
and  firmly  presented  to  the  view  of  the  British  government, 
as  leading  unavoidably  to  discord  and  war  between  tho  two  na- 
tions.    They  were  told,  "  that  unless  they  would  come  to  some 
accommodation  which  might  ensure  the  Amerioan  seamen  a- 
gainst  this  oppression,  measurea  would  be  taken  to  cause  th« 
inconvenience  to  be  equally  felt  on  both  sides*.  They  were  tdd 
"that  the  impressment  of  American  citizens, to  serve  on  board 
of  British  armed  vessels,  was  not  only  an  injury  to  the  unforli- 
nate  individuals,  but  it  naturally  excited  certain  emotions  in  the 
breasts  of  the  nation  to  whom  they  belong,  and  of  the  just  and 
humane  of  every  country  ;  and  that  an  expectation  was  indulj- 
cd  that  orders  would  be  given,  that  the  Americans  ao  circnn.- 
stancod  should  be  immediately  liberated,  and  that  the  Britisk 

I  See  Jie  letter  of  Mr.  Jetferson,  secretary  of  state,  lo  Mr.  Pinkney,  ml 
nistcrat  Lniulon,  dated  lllh  of  June,  1792. 

^  .See  the  letter  from  the  same  to  tlie  same,  dated  the  12th  of  Ort.  1792. 

^See  the  letter  i'rom  t\\es:\)w  to  the  same,  dated  the  6lh  Xov.  17t'2. 

•  See  the  letter  from  Mr.  I'inkuey,  minister  id  London,  to  tiw  secretary  a^ 
jtat'',  dated  13iU  Majch,  J79J. 


ie  order  5n  couifcil  <<f 
hy  the  Hubgeqnent  ur- 
Jjth  of  January,  1798; 
f  1794,  until  the»hcMt 
ns,  in  1802,  the  cum- 
be  the  prey  of  British 
ating  patronage  of  the 
never,  asvumud  a<  tliia 
shade  over  the  social 
dence  of  the  nation  •^ 
s  were  arrested  on  tho 
istant  voyages;  consi- 
pressed  into  tlie  naval 
idventurcB.of  th»  own- 
md  the  loan  of  proper 
ligation,  and  the  Kcene 
ble.      This    grievance 
g  cause  of  the  Ameri* 
a  been  incesBantly,  ur- 
emmcnt.    Kvenin  the 
tionthat  it  liad  excited 
to  immediate  reprisals 
Tlieywere  told  "  that 
ened,  that  it  was  ^uite 
ii8elve»  on  the  subject, 
jh  violence,  which  had 
ition."4  And  they  were 
ct,  andof  the  impowi- 
iah  ministry  should  be 
ling  the  pakl,  aou  pre- 
y  of  amity,  commerce, 
iture  and  the  extent  of 
t ;    and  it  was  clearly 
le  British  government, 
ir  between  tho  two  na- 
ey  would  come  to  some 
e  Amerioan  seamen  a- 
be  taken  to  cause  th« 
sides*.  They  were  tdd 
zcns.to  serve  on  board 
n  injury  to  the  unforli- 
ccrtain  emotions  in  the 
ng,  and  of  the  just  and 
expectation  was  indu1(- 
Americans  ao  circurti- 
1,  and  that  the  Britisk 

■  state,  to  Mr.  Pinkney,  mi. 

»tedthel2thof  Ort.  1792. 
ued  the  6lh  Nov.  ir';2. 
,  London,  to  the  sccreUrf  a| 


jfBcers  should  jr.  future  abstain  from  Mnaflar  violenrfu  ••  Thoy 
ivcre  told    "that  the  subject  was  of   much  gitatrr  imporism  e 
than  had  been  supposed  ;  and  that,  insttad  of  a  fiw  and  those 
in    many  instances  equivocal  case*,    the  American  minister  at 
T-na"""""!  "     '^°"'^*'"  *>"^'    in  nin*^  months,    (part  of  the  years 
1/96  and  Ii97)  made  applications  for  the  discharge  of  twohiij*. 
drodand  seventy  one  seamen,  who  had,  in  most  cases,  exhibit-, 
ed  such  evidence  as  to  satisfy  him,  that  they  were  real  Amrr*. 
cans,  forced  into  tlie  British  service  and  pers.  vering,  K'rieiul* 
Iv,  in  refusing  pay  and  bounty  >')    They  wen  told,  -that  if  ti,e 
Jiritish  gorenunent  had  any  regard  to  the  righlt  of  tho  Vnilid 
States  any  rcHpect  for  the  nation,  and  pUcooany  vahie  on  their 
friendship,  it  would  facilitate  the  means  of  relirrinc  thrircp 
pressed  citizens.'!!     Thry  wcro   told,    "tlut  the  British  t.a%al 
olhcer*  often  impressed   Swedes.  Danes,  and  other  foreignero. 
trom  the  vessels  of    the  United  States;  that  they  migfit.  with 
as  much  reason,  rob  American  vessels  of  the  properly   or  m.r- 
chand.sc  of  Swedes,  Danes,  and  Portuguese,  as  seiae  and  detain 
Jnthc.r  service  tho  subjects  of  those  nations  found  on  hoard  of 

in,?J'?"  "T^^V  ""'*  ^*",*  '*»*  president  was  extremely  an». 
lousto  have  this  busmesK  of  imprescing  placed  on  a  reasonable 
rooting.  $    And  they  were  told.  "  that  the  impressment  of  A  mo- 

deSvtff""?-!''?*'  %"*  'u^^'y  °'  V^  '"■'<»"»  mngi.itude,  which 
SVv,  ^u'^'"'^  *^'^  *^^'  *"S»  ''•"»  >'•>"«>'  of  the  nation;  that  no 
»\^!\u  "  .is''erted.to  impress  the  natives  of  America  lytt 

XtLnf^  vveremipressed;  they  were  dragged  on  board  British 
•h,p«  of  war  with  the  evidence  of  citizenship  in  their  hands, 
and  forced  by  violence  there  to  serv^until  co,«;lasive  testimo^ 
niali  of  their  birth  could  be  obtamed;  that  many  must  oerish 
-nrelieved,  and  all  wepe  detained  a  co;siderable  time  in  Taw- 
less  and  injurious    confinement ;  that  the   continusnce  of    the 

Kch'o'S  ,:"r' h''^;  P"f '^^^  '^''''''■''  »'*^'*^^"  ^^"  "•"i"'» 
Which  ought    0  be  the  friends  of  each  other;    nad  that  it  was 

ZZ^tZ'^'V''  'rt*  ?"'"•  ^"'  '^  takeefre'ctulfmeasurer?' 
wrorT;  'to  "Cknowledged  wrong,  than  by  perseverance  in  that 
«pn?f'  p^"'^'^  against  themselves  the  well  founded  resent- 
Shichl^T'"'  '"'I  fo'-'^^.the  government  into  measure* 
Shok"^  V  l^t?^'^  terminate  in  an  open  rupture  •  f 
buch  were  the  feelings  and  the  sentiments  of  the   American 

frtrSrir  r^''  T''  '';""«^  *'<"'^*  -Lninistration .  fn'ela" on 
S?rance?SH  I'^^f^'"  "^  ""Pr.^sn.ent  ;  ar.d  such  the  n  mon- 
atrances  addressed  to  the  justice  of  Great  Britain.     It  is  ohvi- 

30d?  Julv."  rS  "'  ^' •  ''''^'  '"'"'^  "'"ordinary,  to  lord  Grenville.  datci  the 
4*te?U '^iVth  of  C!l  ■  ^7^' '"""'""' "'  *'""'°"'  *"  '^  '^"^^'•y  "^  ''■■'''' 

1796  *  •  ^^^'  *^"'"'  ^^'^  """*^  "»  "^^  »«'"«.  «l«ted  the  26lh  of  October, 
im.  '*  ^  **'-^ff»  *'«»t«-  at  LondoH.  dated  Uie  iUh  Sc^t. 


\0 

.       .-    «  ih.,\  iVm  c-iusc.  inclepcnilont.  of  cvcrv  other,  ha^ 
0U3,  tlicrelore,  thil  ^'^'^/'^r''';      .    certain  cause   oi  war  ;  yet, 

the.  characterUt.c  1^.7  ^^^  ."^^dS  bV  n'^.odaf^on  ;  u„.i  every 
remonstrance  was  only  /"^;^®^°^°    -^^jn^^nied  «ith    nn  over- 
a««ertion  of  Aiuoncan  "S»'t'» J^^s  ^t^^'JP     •   .  j,  ^j i},,at  I3n- 
ture.  to  secure,  in  any  P;-^*;;;^  ^Z^^^;  ^er  fi  more  and  m.re 
tain-     Ti'"^'^^'^'"''''^'-^!';'  Vtandard    of  the  British  rights, 
difficuU  to  ascertain  and  <'^y^f  ";"*;, h  clain,».     The  rigl.t  ot 
according  to  t^^^ "^^^''^'T;^'  ,Sr„   ^^ vcluvnl  ship,  for  the  pur- 
tcring  and  searching  »"  j^-^J^  .'^^^iie,  confined  to  the  case  of 
pose  of  inipre*^'"^"'' 7;;.:  *°;  f J^''^     ,,,  „,o,,th    of  Fehruary, 
JBritish  deserters  ;  •^"'^^f.^'^",  .^^J^,  ^  "4,j„.tv,  then   hI  PMadel- 
1800.  the  minister  of  .^^^^  *^'  .^^^^  i,^.,  •!.  to*  take  into  cor..idera- 
phia,  urged  the  ^"^^"^^"^07^"™^^^^^^^^^        aourcc  of  complaint, 
Son,  as  the  -^y  ™Xt  head  ^     ^posai  ^vhich  he  had    made 
and  irritation,  upon  that  head,  a  P     ^         ^y^  government,  lor 

two  years  before,  m  the  "^'^^  ^*  J   .."^^     fjut  this  project  of  » 
the  reciprocal  restitution  otdesci^^tt^^^.^         ^^   ,he 

treaty  was  then  de.med  '"^fj^Xe  's  of  the  executive  depart- 
United  States,  and  the   chief  otnc^^^^  the  same  rea- 

ments  of  the  government,  ^^"J"  »^*;"  ,,,t  period,  induced   he 
«on.   Bpecifically   which    at  a^  subseq  P  ^^^  f^cm  the 

presid3nt  of  the  U.  ^t»^f '  ^^^.S^^ini^'^ters  at  London,  in  the 
:-.,f„  nprnniated  by  the  American  m.  provide  against 


,eet  the  consequences,  -•-• 

to  nave  ., -,.      „^_-^  on  the  high  seas,  among  the  in»"^» 

enumerate  :nerchant  ^«««<f  .  ^^;^,^h  of  desertcrs.-l.U  Buv,  tho 
not  to  be  forcibly  ^''^^y'fZithZi.i^^^r  elasticity,  >^ as  soon 
British  claim     expanding    with  Mng  ^^^^^^^  ^^  ^^   j^^^i 

found  to  include  a  "g^^^or  and  setTall  British  seamen  ;  ilnext 
seas,  in  order  to  ^<=^'^^^Jf/^,itth  su^J^<=t;  and  finally,  in  ts 
embraced  the  case  of  every  B^'t^^'^J^d.d  to  every  mar  me  % 
practical  enforcement,  it  h«8  been  ^  ^^^^^^  ^^  the 

who  could  not  prove,  upon  the  spot, 
United  States.  ^  .  .  j^  ^^^^    was  thus   ambiguouB 

While  the  nature  of  ^^^  f  .'^'^J"  J  *h  it  was  referred,  tor  jus- 
and  fluctuating,  the  prmc.ple  to  which  It         ^^^^.^^^^y    ^^  ,, 

tification  and  support,  W"^J»^^«;,^,„e  code  ofthe]^-'^^ 
Jusory     It  was  not  recorded  in  ^^J ^  ^^,.y  works  of  the  ci- 

natioL;itwasnot  displayed  in^^^^ 

viliun  -,  nor  had  it  ever  been  exemi  ^^^  ^^^^^ 
.•     1  ,w    Mr  KinK's  propositions  to  lor'l  ^''^"  ,gg  Uic  25ih 

°I  i-tb.:uidlht-MlU  of  April,  IbCO. 


lent,  of  every  other,  had 
tain  cause  oi'  war  ;  yet, 
I  Slates  slill  prevailed  • 
ne-ociation  ;  and  every 
inpanied  «ith    nn  over- 

therijiihts  ofllrcat  Bvi- 
'uder  it  more  and  mare 
rd  of  the  British  ri.iilits, 
sh  claims.  The  right  ot 
iVcVuvftt  siup,  for  the  pur- 
,  confined  to  the  case  ot 
the  month  of  Fehyuai'.V, 
,ajo.tv,  then   al  Phdadel- 

•'  lo'takc  into  coTii-idera- 
'very  source  of  complauit, 
losai  which  he  had  made 
najesty's  government,  lor 
•'4     IJut  this  project,  of* 

by  the  president  of  the 
J  of  the  executive  depart- 
>nsuUed  for  the  same  rea- 
.uent  period,  induced  the 
d  his  approbation  trcm  the 
iinisters  at  London,  in  tl.e 
sufficiently  provide  against 
■n  :"U and  "that It  la  better 

consequences,  than  not  t» 
,igh«a9,  among  the  things 

,  of  desertors."l.ll  Buv.  the 
iRular  elasticity,  was  soon 
,?ncan  vessels  on  thehjh 
.all  British  seamen;  It  next 
subiect-.and  finally,  in  itB 
:Ktendedto  every  marme^^ 
thathewasi^cttiaenotthe 

,laim    was  thus   af  ^^f  (^^^ 
iiGhitwasretcrred,tor   "8. 

,e   at  oi.ce,  arbitrary  and  iJ- 

positivecodeofthe  lawot 

'el„..entavy  works  of   he  e - 

.lifi.Ml  in  the  maniime  usages 
Ping,  the  secretary  of  sUte,  dated 

AC,  atton.cy  general,  daitaui 


11 

of  any  other  t'ountry,  in  any  other  age.  Tn  trtith,  it  Trusthr.  ofl- 
aprin-  of  the  uiunicipal  law  of  Great  Britain  alone  ;  etiually  o- 
porativo  in  a  tiuiC  of  peace,  and  in  a  time  of  wi^r  ;  and,  ufidir 
all  ciicvirnstance,-),  inllictini;  a  coercive  jurisdiction,  upon  the 
commerce  and  navigation  of  the  world. 

For  the  legitimate  rights  of  the  belligerent  powers,  the  Tnt- 
ted  Stales  liad  fell  and  evinced  a  sinceie  and  open  ropcct.  Al- 
thou^li  they  had  marked  a  diversity  of  doctrine  among  the  ir.o«t 
ocKhiittcd  jurists,  upon  many  of  the  lilig-itcd  points  of  the  law 
of  v\ai'  .although  they  had  formerly  c^punscf),  with  the  txan.}  lo 
of  the  most  powerful  goveinmcnt  ofKuiope,  the  prii.t';|  ics  of 
fhe  armed  neutrality,  which  were  eslablistcd  in  the  year  I7t0, 
ujion  the  basis  of  the  memorable  declaration  of  the  empress-  of 
ill  tiie  Russias;  and  allhongh  theprincipU's  of  tl.at  declaration 
have  been  incorporattd  into  all  their  public  trt  aties,  exetpt  in 
the  instance  of  the  treaty  of  1794  ;  yet,  the  United  States,  still 
faithful  to  the  pacific  and  impartial  policy  which  they  professed, 
did  not  hesitate,  even  at  the  conorm-nceDient  of  the  French  n  vo- 
lulioiiary  war,  to  accept  and  allow  thr*  esfjo»iition  of  the  law  of 
nations,  as  it  was  then  maintained  by  Great  Britain  ;  and,  con- 
sequently, to  admit,  upon  a  much  contested  point,  ti.at  the  pro- 
perty of  her  enemy,  in  their  vessels,  might  be  lawfully  captur- 
ed as  prize  of  war.*  It  was,  also,  freely  admitted,  that  a  bel- 
ligerent power  had  a  right  with  proper  cautions,  to  enter  and 
search  American  vessels,  for  the  goods  of  an  enemy,  and  for 
articles  contraband  of  war  ;  that,  if  upon  n  search,  such  goods 
or  articles  were  found,  or  if,  in  the  course  of  the  search,  pep- 
aons  in  the  military  service  of  the  enemy  were  discovered,  a  bel- 
ligerent had  a  right,  in  doubtful  cases,  to  carry  Amerit  an  ves- 
sels to  a  convenient  station,  for  further  examination  ;  and  that  a 
belligerent  had  a  right  to  exclude  Auieiican  vrs&els  from  porta 
and  places,  under  the  blockade  of  an  adequate  naval  force.-^ 
These  rights  the  law  of  nations  might,  reas-onably,  be  deemed 
to  sanction  ;  nor  has  a  fair  eytrci.se  of  llie  powers  necessary 
for  the  enjoyment  of  these  rights,  been,  at  any  time,  controvert- 
ed, or  opposed,  by  the  American  gove.innient. 

But,  it  must  be  again  remarked,  that  the  claim  of  Great  Bri- 
tain was  not  to  be  salistied,  by  the  most  an. pie  and  explicit  re- 
cognitioH  of  the  law  of  war  ;  for,  the  law  of  wfr  treats  only  of 
tha  relations  of  a  belligerent  to  his  enemy,  while  the  claim  of 
Great  Britain  embraced,  also,  the  relations  be!  w--en  a  sovereitn 
and  his  subjects.  It  was  said,  that  cvciy  British  siihjccl  ^^  as 
bound  by  a  tie  of  allegiance  to  his  sovereign,  whi(  h  no  lip te 
of  time,  no  change  of  place,  no  exigency  of  life,  could  possibly 
■weaken,  or  dissolve.  It  was  said,  that  the  British  sovereign 
■was  entitled,  at  all  periods,  and  on  all  oc  asions,  to  the  servi- 
ces of  his  subjects.  And  it  was  said,  that  th.  Brili»^h  vessels  of 

•  .Se,:  t!ic  cnn-OHpoiulerce  of  the  ye;  r  1792  between  Mr  J(  ilerson,  sen  Mi. 
n'  of  stale,  iiii'l  the  minis-ters  of  Cirr-at  Hrit.-iin  n"rl  d  uice.     Si  o  .-ils'i  iV'r. 
jVll.r.-oi,'-.  letter  to  the  Aincricim  imnistu-  lit  i'iiris,  ol  the  sunie  jear,  r-- 
•^'Jesting  the  rctttll  of  -Mi".  Genet. 


12 

waruptvn  the  high  seas,  might  lawfully  Rnd  forcibly  cuter  tho 
merchant  vcHsels  of  every  other  nation  (for  tl.c  theory  of  these 
pretensions  is  not  limited  to  the  case  of  the  United    .jtatcs,  al- 
thonch  that  case  has  beeti,  almost  exclusively,  affected  by  their 
practical  operation)  tor  the  purpose  of  discoverit-g  and  impress- 
ing British  8ubiect8.+     The  tJnited  Slates  presume  not  to  dis  • 
cuss  the  forms,  or  the  principles,  of  the  governments  established 
in  other  countries.     EnjoyiuR  the  right  and  the  blessing  of  self 
government,  they  leave,  implicitly,  to  every  foreign  nation,  the 
choice  of  its  social  and  political  institutions.  But,  whatever  may 
be  the  form,  or  the  principle,  of  government,  it  is  an  universal 
axiom  of  pubiiclaw,  among  sovereign  and  independent   states, 
that  every  nation  is  bound  so  to  use  and  enjoy  its  own  rights^as 
«ot  to  injure,    or  destroy,  the  rights  of  any  other  nation,     bay 
then,  that  the  tie  of  allegiance  cannot  be  severed,  or  relaxed,  a^. 
respects  the  sovereign  and  the  subject;  and  say  that  the  sover- 
eign is,  at  all  times,  entitled  to  the  services  of  the  subject ;  »till, 
thtre  is  nothing  gained,  in  support  of  the  British  claim,  unless 
rtcan,  also    be   said,  that    the  Biitish  sovereign  has  a  right  to 
aeek  and  seize  his  subject,  while  actually  within   the  dominion, 
or  under  the   special   projection,    of  another  sovereign    state. 
This  will  not,  surely,  be  denominated  a  process  of  the  law  ot  na- 
tions, for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  the   rights  of  war  ;  and  it  it 
Bhall  be  tolerated  as  a  process  of  the  munioipAl  law  of  Oreat 
Britain,  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  the  right  of  the  sovereign 
to  the  service  of  his  subjects,  there  is noprinciple  of  di»crimi- 
aatlon,  which  can  prevent  its  being    employed  in  Mace,  or  m 
war.  with  all  the  attendant  abuses  of  force  and  fraud,  tojustify 
the  seizure  of  British  subjects  for  crimts,  or  for  debt»;  and  the 
aeizureof  British  property,  for  any  cause  that  shall  be  arbitra- 
rilv  assiencd.    The  introduction  of  these  degrading  novelties  in- 
to the  maritime  code  of  nations,  it  ha*  been  the  arduous  task 
of  the  American  government,  in  the  onset,  to   oppost* ;  and    it 
rests  with  all  other  goyernmen's  to  decide,  how  far  th.-ir  honour 
and  their  interests   must  be  eventually    implicated   bv  a  tacit 
acqaieseeno«,  in  the  successive  usurpations  of  the  British  ttag. 
If  the  right  claimed  by  Great  Britain  be,  indeed,    common  te 
all  gov-ru.nents.  the  ocean  will  exhibit,  in  addition  to  itsmnny 
other  n  ;rils,  a  scene  of  everlasting   strife  and  contention  ;    but 
what  other  governm^mt  has  ever  claimed  or  exemsed  the  ncht? 
if  the  right  shall  be  exeiuav  ly  established   as  a  trophy  ofthe 
naval  superiority   of  Great  Britain,  the  ocean   which  has  bern 
sometimes   emphutically    denominated,  "  the  highway  of  na- 
tions  '■■  will  be  identified,  in  occupancy   and  -ise,  with   the  do- 
minions of  the  British  crown  ;  and  every  other  nation  must  f  n- 
ioy  the  liberty  of  passage,  upon  the  pay....  .*  -<■  "  *yf"®u^    ^'° 
indulgence  of  a  lie  nee  :  but  what  nation  is  prepared  for  this  sa- 
crifice of  its  honor  and  its  interests  ?  And  if.  after  all,  the  right 
be  now  asserted  (as    experience  too  plaiiily  indicate.)    ♦o''  the 
purpose  of  impos  ng  upon    the  United  States,  to  accommodate 

'  t»Sec  the  Bfitish  declaration  of  tfae  »i  A  of  January,  1W3. 


find  fopoibly  cuter  the- 
for  tlic  theory  of  these 
the  United    States,  al- 
isively,  affected  by  their 
iscoveritig  andimprcss- 
ites  presume  not  to  di«  • 
jovernmeiils  established 
and  the  blessing  of  self 
^cry  foreign  nation,  the 
ions.  But,  whatever  may 
mcnt,  it  is  an  universal 
ind  independent   states, 
I  enjoy  its  own  rights,  as 
'  any  other  nation.     Say 
B  severed,  or  relaxed,  art  • 
and  say,  that  the  sover- 
iccs  of  the  subject ;  still, 
lie  British  claim,  unless 
sovereign  has  a  right  to 
ly  within    the  dominion, 
mother  sovereign    state, 
process  of  the  law  of  na- 
rights  of  war  ;  and  if  it 
munioip.\l  law  of  Great 
he  right  of  the  sovereign 
noprincipie  of  di»crimi- 
■mployed  in  ppace,  or  in 
■orce  and  fraud,  to  justify 
L"S,  or  for  debt* ;  and  the 
ise  that  shall  be  arbitra- 
ge degrading  novelties  in- 
1^  been  the  ardaous  task 
nset,  to   oppost* ;  and    it 
^ide,  how  far  thfir  honour 
y    implieated,  by  a  tacit 
itians  of  the  British  Hag. 
1  be,  indeed,    common  to 
t.  in  addition  to  its  mony 
•ife  and  cont<»ntion  ;    but 
edorexf^mspd  the  right? 
ished    as  a  trophy  of  the 
le  ocean,  which  has  bern 
•d,  *'  the  higliv/ay  of  na- 
f   and  use,  with   the  do- 
ery  othp?  nation  must  f  n- 
yiii.    t  c*"  "*  t-i-Jiiie  or  tho 
on  is  prepared  for  this  sa- 
And  if,  after  ail,  the  right 
jlai;)ly  indicate?)    for  the 
i  States,  to  accommadat^ 

r  January,  1W3. 


13 

f  he  British  maritime  policy,  »new  and  odious  limitation  of  the 
aovereieuty  and  independence,  which  were  acquired  by  tlie  glo- 
rious  revolution  of  1776,  it  is  not  for  the  American  government 
to  calculate  the  duration  of  »  war.  that  ihall  be  waged,  in  re- 
sistance to  the  active  attempts  of  Great  Britain,  to  accomplish 
her  project ;  for,  where  is  the  American  citizen,  wh»  would  to- 
lei-atc  a  day's  submission,  to  the  vaesal^ge  of  such  %  condi- 
tion? 

But  the  American  goverment  has  seen,  with  some  surpriie, 
the  glos%  which  the  Prince  Regent  of  Great  Britain,  m  his  de- 
claration ot  the  lOth  of  January,  1»13,  has  condescended  to  bes- 
tow upon  the  British  claim  of  a  right  to  impress  men,  on  board 
of  the  merchant  vessels  of  other  nations ;  and  the  retort,  which 
he  has  ventured  to  make,  upon  the  conduct  of  the  United  State?, 
relative  to  the  controverted  doc^trincs  of  expatriation.    1  he  A- 
nierican  government,  Uke  every  other  civilized  government,  »- 
vows  the    principle,  and  indulges  the  practice,  of  naturalizing 
foreigners.  In  Great  Britain,  and  throughout   tl»e  continent  of 
Europe,  the  laws  and  regulations  upon  the  subject,  are  not  ma 
terially  dissimilar,  when  eompatcd  with  the  laws  and    regula- 
tions of  the  United  States     The  effect,  however,  of  such  natur 
•ralization,  upon  the  connexion,  which  previously  subsisted,  be- 
tween the  naturalized  person,  and  the  govemment  of thecoun- 
try  of  his  birth,  has   been   difFerently  considered,   at  different 
times,  and  in  different  places.     Still,  there  arc  many  respects, 
in  which  a  diversity  of  opinion  does  not  exist,  and  cannot  arise. 
It  is  agreed,  on  all  hands,  that  an  a£t  of  naturaliiation  is  not  a 
violation  of  tiie  law  of  nations  ;  and  that,  in  particular  it  is  not 
in  itself,  tai  offence  againfitthe  government,  whose  subject  is  na- 
turalized.    It  is  agreed,  that  an  act  of  naturalization    creates, 
between  the  parties,  the  reciprocal  obligaUons  of  allegiance  and 
protection.     It  is  agreed,  that  while  a  naturalized  citizen  con- 
tinues within  the  territory  and  jurisdiction  of  his  adoptive  go- 
vernment, he  cannot  be  pursued,   or  seized, or  reetrauitd,    by 
Ills  former  sovereign.     It  is  agreed,  that  anaturahzed    citizen, 
whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  claims  of  thesovere^gn  of  his 
native  country,  cannot  lawfully  be  withdrawn  trom   the  obliga- 
tions  of  hiscor.tract  of  naturalization,  by  the  force,  or    these 
d.iction  of  a  third  power.     And  it  is  agreed,  that  no    soveieign 
can  lawfully  interfere,  to  take  from  the    service,  or  the  employ- 
ment, of  another  sovereign,  persons  who  are  not  the  subjects  of 
either  of  the,  sovercig^is  engaged    in  the   trans^aclion.     JJuyonrt 
the  principles  of  these  accorded  propositions,  what  have  tlio  IJ- 
nited  Stales  donetojuiUfy  tho  imputation  of  "harboring   brt- 
tish»camon,:ind  of  exfrciiing  anassumcd  riftht  to  transfer  the 
allogiKnceofBri.'ishMibj.^ctf.^'-*-     Tl,e    United  Stntcshave,  m- 
leed,  iii,i6ted  upon  th«  light  of  navigsting  the  ocean  m    pe.icc 
rmd  saf  ■tv.  protecting  ull  thati-s  covered  by  then-   llaa,  as  on  a 
placa  of  equal    and  commot.    jurisdiction  to  all    natior.a;  sa^e 
where  the  law  of  war  inteipoieb   the   exceptions    ot  vi»itaU*«V 


.:ci: 


■<i  Li..-  Briiisli  dccUralioii of  Die  tOUi  '^f  January,  ISlj. 


14 


aearoh,  and  capture  ;  but,  in    doing  this,    ll.S}  l.ave    di,ne    no 
wrong.     The  United  States,  in  perfect  consibtci\cy,  it  ii  bi  lil^^ 
el,  with  the  practice  of  all  beUig>;rent  nations,  not  even   except- 
ing Great  Dritain  herself,  have,  indeed,  announced  a  dt-temiina- 
tion,  since  tlie  declaration  of  lio«tilit»«>«.  to  afford  pr>>tection,  as 
well  to  the  naturalizad,  as  to    the  native  citizen,   who,  giving 
the  strongest  proofs  of  lidelity,  should  be  token  in  arms  by  the 
enemy  ;  and  the  British  cabinet,  well  know  that   this  determi- 
nation could  have  no  influence  upon  those  councils  of  their  so- 
vcrcis^n,  whicli  preceded  and  produced   the  war.       It  was  not, 
then,  to  "  h.u-bor  British  seamen,"  nor  to   "transfer  the    alle- 
giance iif  Briush  subjects  ;"  nor  to  "  cancel  the  jurisdiction  of 
thcirle/.iliiiiite  sovereign  ;"  nor  to  vindicate  "  the    pretension 
that  acts  of  naturalization,  and  certificates  of  citizenship,  were 
as  valid  out  of  their  own  territory,  as  within  it  ;"f  that  the    U- 
nilcd  States  have  asserted  tlie  honor  and  the  privilege  of  their 
fits;,  by  the  force  of  reason  and  of  arms.     But  it  was  to  resist  a 
systenialic  scheme  of   maritime    aggrandizement,    which,  pro- 
scribing to  every  other  nation  the  limits    of  a  territorial  boun- 
dary, claimed  for  Great    Br. tain  the  exclusive  dominion  of  the 
seas  ;  and  which,  spurning  the  settled  principles  of  the  law  of 
war,  condoiiiued  the    ships  and  mariners  of  the  United  States, 
to  suiTer, upin  the  high  seas, and  virtually  within  the  jurisdic- 
ti  on  of  their  dig,  the  most  rigorous  dispensations  of  the    Bri- 
tish municipal  code,  inflicted  by  the  coarse  and  licentious  hand 
of  a  lirili.sh  press  gaiig. 

Tiie  iDJuslice  of  tiie  British  claim,  and  the  crnclty  of  the 
British  practice,  have  tested,  for  a  series  of  j'ears,  fche  pride  and 
the  patience  of  the  Amorican  government:  but,  still,  every 
exp<4riment  was  anxiously  made,  to  avoid  the  last  resort  of  na- 
tions. Tliecliim  of  (»rcat  Britain,  in  its  theory,  waslimiifed  to 
tlie  right  of  .necking  and  impressing  its  own  subjects,  on  board 
of  the  merchant  vessels  of  the  United  States,  altliongh  in  fatal 
experience,  it  has  been  extended  <as  already  appears)  to  the  sei- 
zure of  the  subjects  of  every  other  power,  sailing  under  a  vo- 
lunta.'y  contract  with  the  American  merchant;  to  the  seizure  of 
the  nata'ali/ed  citizens  of  the  United  States,  sailing,  also,  undeP 
voluntary  contracts,  which  every  foreigner,  independent  of  any 
act  of  naturalization,  is  at  liberty  to  form  in  every  country  ;and 
even  to  the  seizure  of  the  native  citizens  of  the  United  Slates, 
bailing  on  boar<l  the  ship?  of  th  ir  own  nation,  in  the  prosecution 
of  a  lawful  commerce.  The  excuse  for  what  has  been  unfcel 
ingly  tcrnt'd,  "  partial  mistakes,  and  occasional  abuse,"t  when 
the  right  of  irnp'-essment  was  practised  towards  vessels  «f  thw 
United  States,  is,  in  the  words  ofthc  Prince  Regent's  detlara 
tion,  "  asi-nilarity  of  language  and  manners  :"  but  was  it  not 
known,  wtien  this  excuse  was  offered  to  the  World,  that  the 
Russian,  the  Swede,  the  Dane,  and  the  German ;  that  the  French- 


t  -^cj  Uicse  ijussages  In  the  British  decl.wation,  of  the  JOthof  Jartuary, 
1813. 
t  Sec  the  British  ikuUration  of  a  e  lOih  of  J»nugT7,  1813. 


IS,    ll.oj  bav«    dune    no 
consistency,  it  it  bi  lic^ 
atioiis,  not  even   excejit- 
annoimced  a  deterniina- 
.  to  afford  piMtection,  as 
ive  citizen,   who,  giving 
be  tnl^en  in  arms  bv  tlin 
enow  tliat   tins  determi- 
lose  councils  of  their  «o- 
l   the  war.       It  was  not, 
r  to  "transfer  the   alle- 
mcel  the  jurisdiction  of 
ndicate  "  the   pretension 
atcs  of  citizenship,  were 
within  it  ;"f  that  the    U- 
nd  the  privilege  of  their 
s.     But  it  was  to  resist  a 
undizemcnt,    wliich,  pio- 
its    of  a  territorial  boun- 
ixchisive  dominion  of  the 
principles  of  the  law  of 
ers  of  the  United  States, 
lally  within  tho  jurisdic- 
lispensations  of  the    Bri- 
oarse  and  licentious  hand 

and  the  crnclty  of  the 
3S  of  3'ears,  fche  pride  and 
ment :  but,    still,    every 
To\A  the  last  resort  of  na- 
its  theory,  waslimilfed  to 
ts  own  subjects,  on  board 
States,  altliough  in  fatal 
Iready  appears)  to  the  sei- 
3wer,  sailing  under   a  vo- 
icrchant;  to  the  seizure  of 
states,  sailing,  also,  under 
igner,  independent  of  any 
irm  in  every  country  ;and 
;cns  of  the  United  Slates, 
nation,  in  the  prosecution 
for  what  has  been  unfcel 
occasional  abuse,"t  wlien 
Bd  towards   vossels  «f  th« 
1  Prince  Regent's  detlara 
manners  :"  but  was  it  not 
1  to  the  world,    that    the 
German ;  that  the  French- 
ration,  of  the  lOtS  of  Jartittary* 
if  J»nugT7.  U13. 


15 

p lexion  ;  had  been,  equally  ^'i^^.^J'^^,:  "tyranny  tl  If.  how. 
British  subject,  thev.ci.ms  of  the  '^P  «  ^^^  ^f  ^,,,  i,„press- 
cver,  the  excuse  be  sincere    .^he   ^^  \j^^  „^,al   service. 

„.eui  be  merely  to  secure  to  J"-ea^»  "[^  ^^'  i„  every  praoti- 
of  her  own  subjects,  atid  not  to  man  n         ^  .  ^^^  jj.        ^ 

cable  mode  of  cnhstnicnt  ^^^SV^^^fual  f  rieudship  and  res- 
and  generous  government^  prof-«..ng^^^^j^^^^^^^  ,f 

pect  may  be  presumed  to  prLtertneac   ^     ^        „d   injurious 

fegit.mate  purpose,  by  me^msth^^^ 

to  others,  why  have  the  °^"  "[J  ^^^^ent,  for  the  purpose  ayow- 

cther  "»^-'« '^^/^^Tfof  a^d  aTc^epTa^^^^        G^eat  Britain,  born 
ed,  to  the  consideration  and  accepia.  ^^^^^^^  ,,hatthenum. 

fo;e.ver  ^l^^ed  or  reje    e.  ^     It  ba,^  ^^^^^,^  ^^^^j^  i,e 

bcr  of  men  to  be  P''°^';^^"^7B*,^ifh  officers  should  be  permit^ 

limited  >y  »'«'-t'^"";«g"%'fftif  "Js  e'  *"  °'^^''  *"  "'"*'"■"  '* 
tedinBrilishportsto  enter  the  ve8^,el,.n  ^^  ^^  ^.ddition  to 

number  of  men  on  board ;,  and  ^V* ,;^°  u^,„id  be  liable  to  im- 
hrcrew,  the  British  subjects  en*^''^^^  J^?^  of  a  Uw,    that 

pressmon't  J  It  was  o«Y-««^  'j;;:.  ^J  ' thTt  they  should  be 
the  American  seamen  should  be  rcgisicn     ,  ^^^^  ^.^jj  ^j 

provided  with  certificates  of  citizen  Vnplan^^^^  ^^ 

[he  crew  of  evvry  vessel  should  b''/^  '""^  ^,i  be  given  to  de- 

vas  offered  that  no  rejige  ^^^'^'^l^^^^Znldbemvveuicvci.f 
sorters;  but,  that, on  '^-J^'^'J^^^^^^^^^^^^^        in  a  convention 

It  was"  aoain    and   again    *'"f7°,"'f„,m(,d  and  whch should 

settle  tW  quMtion  of  ''"r,S"'"V '"he  VnV">  SatcX  l\  w» 
s»fe  for  F.i.sl«'>'l.  •"''  ""'1  "n  ,LlhiW-  H  "cil./.CT.s  or  .ubjeeli.. 

f,.„m  cl.nd..tmelj  «X 'Si  any  SmenbelonsioB  Vo  the  o. 

T*»  the  Wter  or  Mr.  Joff.™.n,  «.erc.  W^^^^^ 

ter  .t  Lr>ntlon,  <lute<l  the  Mb  of  J>'nr,    7y^.       ^  ^t,.  ricVermg,  sc 

4,s.'?:.E:;:.Mr".'urii"»s;s^^^^^^ 

"rsS°,Ur  h  ...r  ofMr.  K»  »-.nU..r  ..  Unto  to  th.  ».rct.ry  ot  ,...c. 


w 

.regsDh  cf  the  United  States  any  pcMOni  except  citizens  of  the 
United  States  ;and  that  no  foreigner  should  be  admitted  to  be 
como  a  citizen  hereafter,  who  had  not  for  the  continued  term 
of  five  years,  resided  within  the    United  States,  without  beine 

Unu/d'kT5e^r^*'*  ^"^  ^•*"'  °"'  "^"^^  »  "'^"y  «>f  th^e 

It  is  manifest  then,  that  such  proTision  nJght  be  made   bv 
law  ;  and  that  such  provision  has  been  repeatedly  and  urgentl  v 
proposed ;  as  would,  in  all  future  times,  ex,ludc  f^om  the  m«rf 
time  service  of  the  United  States,  both  in  public  and  in  private 
vessels,  ev«ry  pei-son,  who  could,  possibly,  be  claimed  by  Great 
BritiMn,as  a  native  subject,  whether  he  had,  or  had  not,   been 
naturalized  m  America  ^     Enforced  by  the  same  sanctions  and 
securities,  which  are  employed  to  enforce  the  penal   code    of 
Cjrreat  Britain,  as  well  as  the  penal  code  at  the  United    States 
the  piovision  would  afford  the  strongest  evidence,  that  n*  Bri' 
tish  subject  could  be  found  in  service  onboard  of  an  American 
vessel ;  and,  consequently,  whatever  might  be  the  British  right 
0   impressment,  in  the  abstract,  there  would  remain  no  justifia- 
ble motive,  there  could  hardly  be  invented  a  plausible  pretext 
to  exercise  it    at   the  expense  of  the  American  right  of  lawful 
commerce.     If,  too,  as  it  has  sometimes  been  insinuated,  there 
would,  nevertheless,  be  room  for  frauds  and  evasions,  it  is  suffi- 
cient to  observe,  that  the  American  government  would,  always 
be  ready  to  hear,  and  to  redress,  every  just  complaint:  or,  if  re- 
dress   were  sought    and  refused,   (a  preliminary  course,    that 
ought  never  to  have  been  omitted,  but  which  Great  Britain  has 
never  pursued,)  it  would  Btill  be  in  the  pow«r  of  the  British  go- 
vernment to  resort  to  its  own  force,  by  acts  equivalent  to  war, 
for  the  reparation  of  its  wrongs.— But    Great  Britain  has,  un- 
happily, perceived  in  the  acceptance  of  the  overtures  of  the  A- 
merican  government,  consequences  injurious   to  her  maritime 
policy  :  and,  therefore,  withholds  it  at  the  expense  of  her  jus- 
^Ice.     She  perceives,  perhaps,  a  loss  of  the  American  nursery 
foe-  her  seamen,  while  she  is  at  peace;  a  loss  of  the  service  of 
American   crews,  while  she  is   at    war;  and  aloes  of  many  of 
those  opportunities,  which  have  enabled  her  to  enrich  her  navy, 
by  the  spoils  of  the  American  commerce,  without  exposing  her 
own  commerce  to  the  risk  of  retaliation  or  reprisals. 

Thus,  were  the  United  States,  in  a  season  of  reputed  peace. 
involved  in  the  evils  of  a  state  of  war;  and  thus,  was  the  Ame- 
ric.in  ilag  annoyed  by  a  nation  still  .professing  to  cherish  the 
sentiments  of  mutual  friendship  and  respect,  which  had  been  re- 
cently '■oiiched,  by  the  faith  of  a  solemn  treaty.  But  the  A- 
merican  government  even  yet  abstained  from  vindicating  its 
rights,  an  I  from  avenging  its  wrongs,  by  an  appeal  to  arms  It 
w.is  not  an  insensibility  to  those  wrongs,  nor  a  dread  of  British 
power,  nor  a  ailbserviency  to  British  interests,  that  prevailed  af 

%  See  the  act  of  congress,  passcil  on  tlie  3il  of  March,  1813. 

*f  9;e  tlie  lottt-r  of  iiistnictirms  from  Mr  Monpoo,  secretary  nf  state,  to 
t.K' p'ciiipoteiuiai'ies  fin- treating- of  peace  with  G,  Bi-itain,  ui-.dw  the  me- 
diation oi  the  emperor  Alexander, dated  the  I5th  of  Apnl.  18:S, 


!<'■! 


17 


lerpons  except  citizens  of  the 
icr  should  be  admitted  to  be- 
not  for  the  continued  term 
United  States,  without  being. 
I,  out  ©f  the  t  .rritory  of  the 

orision  nJght  be  made  by 
eon  repeatedly  and  urgently 
nea,  exQludc  from  the  msri- 
both  in  public  and  in  private 
issibly,  be  claimed  by  Great 
r  he  had,  or  had  not,  been 
d  by  the  same  sanctions  and 
enforce  the  penal  code  of 
code  o{  the  United  States, 
ngest  evidence,  that  ne  Bri- 
ce  on  board  of  an  American 
r  mtght  be  the  British  right 
src  would  remain  nojustifia- 
nvented  a  plausible  pretext, 
le  American  right  of  lawful 
imesbeen  insinuated,  there 
luds  and  evasions,  it  is  suiTi' 

government  would,  always 
ery  just  complaint :  or,  if  re- 
ft preliminary  course,  that 
)ut  which  Great  Britain  has 
le  power  of  the  British  go- 
,  by  acts  equivalent  to  war, 
iut  Great  Britain  has,  un- 
I  of  the  overtures  of  the  A- 

injurious  to  her  maritime 
at  the  expense  of  her  jus- 

of  the  American  nursery 
e ;  a  loss  of  the  service  of 
ivar ;  and  a  loss  of  many  of 
bled  her  to  enrich  her  navy, 
srce,  without  exposing  her 
tion  or  reprisals, 
a  season  of  reputed  peace, 
ir ;  and  thus,  was  the  Ame- 
.  professing  to  elierish  the 
respect,  which  had  been  re- 
lemn  treaty.     But    the  A- 
ned  from   vindicating   its 
J,  by  an  appeal  to  arms    It 
ng?,  nor  a  dread  of  British 
interests,  that  prevailed  b*: 

.1  of  March,  1813. 
Wonpoc,  secretary  pf  state,   to 
ith  G,  Britain,  ilr.di^r  the   in<i- 
I5thof  Api-il.  18:3. 


that  period,  in  the  councHs  of  the  United  States:  but  under  all 
tria's,  the  Americjn  government  abstained  from  the  apjiial  to 
•rmsthen,  as  it  has  repealedly  since  done,  in  its  tfJIisiuns  with 
France,  as  well  as  witti  Great  Britain,  from  tl>e  jiurest  love  of 
P'.'ace.  while  peace  could  be  rendered  compatible  wiih  the  hun* 
or  and  independence  of  the  nation. 

During  the.  period  wmch  lias  hitherto  been  more  particular- 
ly contemplated  (from  the  declaration  of  liostilities  between  G. 
Bi'itaiu  and  France  inthe  year  1792,  untiitlie  khort-lived  paci- 
fication  of  the  treaty  of  Amiens  in  l\i02)  there  were  not  wan- 
ting (iccas ion»,  to  test  the  consistency  and  the  impartiality  of 
the  American  government,  by  a  comparison  of  its  conduct  to- 
wards Hi  Britain  with  its  conduct  towards  other  nations.  The 
manifestations  of  the  extreme  jealousy  of  the  French  govern- 
ment, and  of  the  intemperate  zeal  of  its  ministers  near  the  U. 
States,  were  co-eval  with  the  proclamation  of  neutrality  ;  but 
after  the  ratiiieation  of  the  treaty  of  London,  the  scene  of  vio- 
lence, spoliation,  and  contumely,  opened  by  France,  upon  the 
U.  States,  bfcame  such,  as  to  admit,  perhaps,  of  no  parallel, 
except  in  the  cotemporaneous  scenes  which  were  exhibited  by 
the  injustice  of  her  great  competitor  The  A  niericau  govern- 
ment acted,  in  both  cases,  on  the  san^e  pacific  policy  ;  in  the 
•ame  spirit  of  patience  and  forbearance ;  but  with  tlie  same 
determination  also,  to  assert  the  honor  and  independence  of 
the  nation.  When,  therefore,  every  conciliatory  effort  had 
failed,  and  when  two  succesMve  missions  of  peace  had  been 
contemptuously  repulsed,  the  American  government,  in  th© 
year  1798,  annulled  its  treaties  with  F'rance,  and  waged  a  ma- 
ritime war  against  that  nation,  for  the  defence  of  its  citizens, 
and  of  its  commerce,  parsing  on  the  high  seas. — But  as  soon  atf* 
the  hope  was  conceived,  of  a  satisfactory  change  in  the  disposi- 
tionsofthe  French  government,  the  American  government  tiaa- 
tened  to  send  another  mission  to  France  ;  and  a  convention, 
Bigned  in  the  year  1800.  terminated  the  subsisting  difference* 
between  the  twocouwtries. 

Nor  were  the  United  States,  able,  during  the  same  period,  to 
a-void  a  collision  with  the  government  of  Spain,  upon  many  im- 
portant and  critical  questions  of  boundary  and  commeree  ;  of 
IndiaN  warfare,  and  maritime  spoliation.  Preserving,  howev- 
er, their  system  of  moderation,  in  the  assertion  of  their  rights, 
s  course  of  amicable  discussion  and  explanation,  produced  mu- 
tual satisfaction  ;  and  a  treaty  of  friendship,  limits,  aad  navi- 
gation was  formed  in  the  year  1795,  by  which  the  citizens  of 
the  United  States  acquired,  a  right,  for  the  space  of  three  years 
to  deposit  their  merchandises  and  effects  in  tlie  port  of  Kew- 
Orleans  ;  with  a  promise,  either  that  th>  enjoyment  of  that  rifiht 
ehould  be  indefinitely  continued,  or  that  another  part  of  the 
Imnks  of  the  Mississippi  should  be  assigned  for  an  equivalent 
establishment.  But,  when  in  the  year  I802^t,he  port  of  New- 
Orleana  was  abruptly  closed  against  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  without  an  aesignmeut  of  any  other  e<j[u:valent  place  of 


li 


I   1 


deposit,  the  harmony  of  the  two  countries  WM  again  mort  >«• 
riously  endangered  ;  until  the  Spanish  f^overnuient,  yioldinf!,  to 
the  remonstrances  of  the  United  Slates,  disa\owed  the  act  of 
the  intendunt  of  New  Orleans,  and  ordered  tlierij-ht  of  depoaite 
to  be  reinstated,  on  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  1795. 

The  etVccts  produced,  even  by  a  temporary  bii.tpeniiion  of  the 
right  ofde»po»it  at  New  Orleans,  upon  Hie  interests  and  fee- 
lings of  the  nation,  naturally  aug^CBted  to  the  American  ^o- 
verninent,  the  expediency  of  guarding  against  their  rceurrence, 
by  the  acquisition  of  a  permanent  property  in  the  province  of 
i^ouisiana.  The  minister  of  the  United  Slates,  at  Madrid, 
was,  accordingly,  instructed  to  apply  to  the  government  of 
Spain  upon  the  subjact  ;  and,  on  the  1th  of  May,  1803,  he  re- 
ceived an  answer,  stating  that  "  by  the  retrocession  made  to 
France,  of  Louisiana,  that  power  regained  the  province,  with 
the  liniils  it  had  saving  the  rights  acquired  by  other  powers  ; 
and  that  the  United  States  could  address  themselves  to  the 
French  government,  to  negociate  the  acquisition  of  territories 
which  mi!;ht  suit  their  interest.*  But  before  this  reference, 
official  infomiation  of  the  same  fact  had  been  received  by  Mr. 
Pinkney  from  the  court  of  Spain,  in  the  month  of  March  pre- 
ceding;  and  the  Americn  government,  having  instituted  a 
.special  mission  to  negociale  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  from 
France,  or  from  Spain,  whichever  sliould  be  its  sovereign,  the 
purchase  was,  accordingly,  accomplislied  for  a  valuable  consi- 
deration (that  was  punctually  paid)  by  the  treaty  concluded  at 
Pari.^  on  th3  30th  of  April, "l»03. 

The  American  government  has  not  seen,  without  some  sen- 
sibility, that  a  transaction,  accompanied  by  such  circunistauet 
of  general  publicity,  and  of  scrupulous  good  faith,  has  been  de- 
nounced by  the  prince  regent,  in  his  declaration  of  the  10th 
of  January,  1813,  as  a  proof  of  the"  ungenerous  conduct"  of 
tlie  U.  States  towards  Spain.f  In  ampUtication  of  the  royal 
charge,  the  British  negociators  at  Ghent,  have  presumed  to 
impute  the  acquisition  of  Louisiana,  by  the  U.  States,  toa  spi- 
rit of  aggrandisement,  not  necessary  to  their  own  security; 
and  to  maintain  '•'  that  the  purchase  was  made  againot  the 
known  conditions,  on  which  it  had  been  ceded  by  Spam  to 
France  ;"tthat  "  in  the  face  of  the  protestation  of  the  miHisl^r 
of  his  catholic  majesty  at  Washington,  the  president  ot  the  U. 
Stales  ratified  the  treaty  of  purchabevtl  and  that  '-there  was 
-rood  rcison  to  believe,  that  many  circumstanees  attending  the 
t'ran-saction  wereindustrloii.lv  concealed."^.  The  American  go- 
vernmet.t  cannot  condescend  to  retort  aspersions  so  unjust,  13 
liinsuacrc  so  opprobrious;  and  peremptorily  rejects  the  preten- 

^'»  See  tl.Mot'er  from  I><.n  I'edrn  Ccvallos.  Oie  miiusler  of  Spuln,  to  »Ir.  C 
Vinknev,  the  raini-ttr  of  the  Uiilfed  Stales,  dated  the  4tli  ot  May,  IHJ., 
:>"m  which  ihe  nassaee  cited  is  liteially  translated. 

.t-  ■<>■,'  tho  t'niice  Itege.il',  cU-claiaMon  of  tlie  lOlh  ot  .Tantiary,  16' J- 
j  Sr>t;.K  iK.-ic  of  the  British  colnmiasioners,  d.itcd  4Mi  Seplt-ii.htT  I814. 
i  iicc  the  -.vJi.  of  Jw  lirltisli  coiiimiisionei  •.d-Util  me  19ih  St-pt.   Ihl4^ 
\  '-0K  ths  note  of  ibc  Ur.ti.'ih  conr.nissi'-n'i.-s  dated  UiC  8tli  et  O:.  lei*. 


y\ 


■ies  was  again  most  >»• 
;ovfniuient,  yielding  to 
,  disa\ov\e(l  the  act  of 
red  t)ie  rij-ht  of  depouite 
Xy  of  1795. 

jvary  bii.tpentiion  of  the 
I  lie  iiiteieiits  and  fee- 
to  tlie  American  |i;u> 
gainst  their  recurrence, 
ivty  in  the  province  of 
,cd  States,  at  Madrid, 
to  the  government  of 
ri  of  May,  1803,  he  re- 
retrocession  madft  to 
tied  the  province,  with 
ired  by  other  powers  ; 
•ess  themselves  to  the 
cquisition  of  territoriea 
before  this  reference, 
,d  been  received  by  Mr. 
e  month  of  March  prc- 
it,  having  instituted  a 
Lse  of  Louisiana  from 
ild  be  its  sovereign,  the 
d  for  a  valuable  consi- 
the  treaty  concluded  at 

een,  without   some  sen- 
i  by  such  circunista.uet 

good  faith,  has  been  do- 
ledavation  of  the  10th 
rigenerous  conduct"  of 
|)litication  of  the  royal 
jnt,  have  presumed  to 
r  the  U.  States,  to  a  spi- 
o    their   own  security  ; 

was  made  againot  the 
en  ceded  by  Spain  to 
testation  of  the  minister 

the  president  of  the  U. 
tl  and  that  '■  there  was 
umstanoea  attending  the 
ed."^.  The  American  go- 
aspevbions  so  unjus-t,  ia 
jrily  rejects  the  preten- 

emiiuslerofSpur'ito  Mr.  C 

dated  the  4tll  <it  Way,   ISOJ. 

luted. 

e  lOlh  of  .Taniiary,  1813. 

,  d.itid  4'li  SepU-iiihtT  1814. 

,d.atu  liic  laih  Sopt.   ISH. 

>  dated  UieBtliefO:;  181*; 


,.<m  of  (r.  Ikitain.  to  interfere  in  tl.c  busine.*  of  the  U..itad 
Cesan-l  Spain;  but  it  owes,  nevertheUss.  to  the  cUuns  ot 
tru it  u  ii  tiicl  Htutcn.enl  ot  the  fr.ct.  vvhich  have  ^«':"  ^h^ 
mtei  resented.  When  the  special  nu.»ion  was  appo n.ted  to 
"'"'"'I"      ,  ,      .  ,.,•  I  ,„,,Miutia  fioHi  Fi   nee,  in  the  inaa- 

nes'ociutethc  purchase  ot   Louiwana  iiom  ri  /"■•,.  , 

ne?  already  mentioned,  the  American  m.nuter,  ^l^^^^'';  " 
rn.tructedto  e.xpluin  the  object   of  the    ''\l''^ll,.^''^ ^^';;^^. 
n.adethe  e.xplaaalion,  he  wa»  assured    by    the    brit.^h  go^tiu 
n    nt    ''  that  the  cumn.anicatiou  was  received  in  good  part ,  n» 
Tul  i  wr;i.,,e.ted  of  the  nght  of  the  United  States  to  purs  e 
seDaratclv  and  alone,  the  objects  they  aimed  at  ;  butthe  lliitisll 
^rcnmlt  appeared  to  be-'.atuaed  with   ^1- P'-f '-^-cW 
on  this  important  subject.'-     As  soon   too,   as    ^h^     '«»'■>   «» 
nurchase  was  concluded,  before  hostilities    «ei-e  •B»»!'  "«  ""   f 
Jo-mnenced  between  G.  Britain  and  France,  ana  p.  evu.u»lym, 
deedto  the  departure  of  the  French  ambassador  Uom  London, 
t  Ameiican  t^.inistcr  openly  notified  to  the    ^"J^i'^S^--; 
ment,  that  a  treaty  had  been  signed,  "by  whicli   the  <-«'°P'e^J 
Svereignty  of  the  town  and  territory  of  Wew    Orleans,  a.  well 
as  of  all  Louisiana,  as  the  same  wa.  heretofore  possessed      J 
Spain,  had  been  a.-quired  by  the  U.   States  ot   A.ner  ca     and 
that  in  drauinu  up  the  treaty,  care  had  been  taken  so  lo    '>im» 
tl;^  sTmo.  as  nttfo  infringe  any  right  of  O.  lintam.  m    he  na- 
vication  of  the  river  Mississippi."!     1"  the  answer    of  the  UU 
JiTgovernmcnt,  .t  was  explicitly  declan^d  by  lord  Uawkesbury, 
"  that  he  had  received  his  majesty's  commands  to  expiesa  tne 
pleasure  with  wl,:<i.  t.is  majesty  had  received   the  »'««»'f' '*;^i 
and  to  add,  Ikat  his    majesty    regarded    ^l^!  care,  which    haO 
been  taken  ^o  to  frame  the  treaty  as  not  t»  mtringe    any   rigM 
of  G.  Britain  in  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  as  Iho    ir.osl 
satisfactory  cvidcFice  of  a  disposition  ov  tlie  part  ot  the  govern- 
ment ofthe  U.  States,  correspondent  with  that  which   his   ma^ 
iesty  entertained,  to  promote  and  improve  that  harmony,  whicB 
80  happily  sub!,i>ted  between  thctwo  countries,  and  which  vvai 
so  conducive  to  their  mutual  benefif't     Tlie  world  will  judge, 
whether,  under  such  circumstances,  the  British  governineiitl.aa 
any  cause,  on  its  own  account,  to  arraign  the  conduct  ot  the  V, 
States  inmaking  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  ;  and,  certainly,  no 
greater  cause  will  be  found  for  the  arraignment,  on  attcunt   ot 
Spain     T)ie  Spanisli  government  was  apprized  ol  the  inenti- 
on  of  the  U.  States  to  negociate  for  the  purchese  of  that  pro- 
vince ;  its  ambassador  witnessed  the  progrcssof  the  neguciatioii 
at  Pari.s ;  and  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty,  on  the  .' 0th  .d  Apnl 
1803,  was  promptly  known  and  undirstood  at  Siadnd.  Yet,  the 

""•  Ste  the  letter  from  the  sccvetHry  of  state,  to  Mr.  King",  the  An-.ciic.^w 
minister  i.t  L<  .vdu..,  dated  the  29l1.  of  Januury,  1«0L<  i  ai  d  Mr.  hn.gi  s  let- 
Ui-  to  tlie  secittiiiy  uf  state,  <;sttd  ttie  2btl>  ct  .April,  ie(_o. 
f  Sec  the  Ic-Uer  of  Mr.  King,  to  lord  U^wktsbu^y,  dfettd  the  IStli  ot  May, 

i'.'t-e  f  e  le'ter  of  lord  H.wk«6but/,.to  Mr.  King,  dated  tlie   9ili  of  Mafi 
1803. 

B2 


20 

Spanish  government  fntorposed  no  o^jt^ction,  no  protettatlon 
a^ainMtthetraritaetion,  in  Kurupe  ;  and  it  was  not  until  the 
month  of  September,  IH03,  that  the  American  government 
heard,  with  lurprize,  fmm  the  minister  of  Spain,  at  Waniiing 
t'>n,  that  hia  catholiu  mRJ<^Hty  wai  disanliitfted  with  the  cesNion 
ofLouisrana  to  the  V.  States.  N<>twith»t;im]ing  thin  diplomatic 
lemoristrance,  however,  the  Spanish  government  proceeded  lo 
deliver  the  possession  of  Louisiana  to  France,  in  execution  of 
the  treaty  of  St.  lidel'onso  ;  saw  France,  bj>  an  almost  simulta- 
neous act,  transfer  the  possession  to  the  U.  Slates,  in  execution 
of  the  treaty  of  purchase  ;  and,  finally,  instructed  the  marquis 
de  Casa  Yrnjo,  to  present  to  the  American  government,  the  de- 
'elaration  of  the  15th  May,  1804,  acting  "by  the  special  order  of 
hi(t  sovereign,"  "  that  the  explanations,  which  the  goveninient 
of  Franre  hadgivento  his  catholic  majesty,  concerning  the  sale 
©f  Louisiana  to  the  United  States,  and  the  amicable  dispositions, 
on  the  part  of  the  king,  his  master,  towards  these  states,  had 
determined  him  to  abandon  the  opposition,  which,  at  a  prior 
period,  and  with  the  mo.st  substantial  motives,  he  had  manifesti>- 
ed  against  the  transaction  "|l 

But  after  this  amicable  and  decisive  arrangement  of  all  differ- 
ences, in  relation  to  the  validity  of  the  Ijouisiana  purchase,  a 
question  of  some  nnbarraBsment  rei>  ained,  in  rflation  the  boun- 
daries of  the  ceded  territory.  This  question  however  the  A  me- 
rican  government  always  has  been,  and  always  will  be,  willing 
to  discuss,  in  the  most  candid  manner,  and  to  settle  upon  the 
most  liberal  ba«i!<,  with  the  government  of  Spain.  It  was  not, 
therefore,  a    fair  topic,  with   which  to  inflame  the  Prince  Re- 

glint's  declaration  ;  or  to  embellish  the  diplomatic  notes  of  the 
iritish  negociators  at  Ghent.  $  The  period  has  arrived,  when 
Spain,  relieved  from  her  European  labors,  may  be  expected  to 
bestow  her  attention,  more  efTectually  upon  the  state  of  her  co- 
lonifs;  and,  acting  with  the  wisdom  justice  and  magnanimity, 
•f  which  she  has  given  frequent  examples,  she  will  find  no  dif- 
ficulty, in  meeting  the  recent  advances  of  the  American  gov> 
erpment,  for  an  honorable  adjustment  of  every  point  in  contro- 
versy between  the  two  countries,  without  seeking  the  aid  of 
British  mediation,  or  adopting  the  animosity  of  British  coun- 
cils 

But  still  the  United  States  feeling  a  constant  interest  in  the 
epinion  of  enlightened  and  impartial  nations,  cannot  hesitate  to 
embrace  the  opportunity,  for  representing  in  the  simplicity  of 
truth,  the  events,  by  which  they  have  been  led  to  take  posses- 
sion of  a  part  of  the  Fioridas,  notwithstanding  the  claim  of 
Spain  to  tlie  sovereignty  of  the  same  territory.  In  the  accep- 
tation nnd  understanding  of  the  United  States,  the  cession  of 
Louisiana,  embraced  the  country  south  of  the  Mississippi  terri- 


H  Sec  the  letter  of  the  marquis  dc  Casa  Yrwjf>,  te  tlue  American  secretary 
'  ef  st:ite,  date-l  tiie  15ih  of  May,  1804. 

^  See  the  prince  regent's  declaration  of  the  10th  of  Jamiary,  181 !.  See  the 
ao^es of  tbe Uritisk commissioners,  dattd  19ih  Sejitcmbei',  8.h  October,  ISli. 


r 


jfiction,  no  proteitotJon 
id  it  was  not  until  the 
American  government 
r  of  Spain,  at  Wasliing 
uliitfied  with  the  cesxion 
Imtiinding  thii*  diploniutic 
overnnienl  proceeded  to 
I  France,  in  execution  uf 
E>,  by  an  almost  aimulta- 
le  U.  States,  in  execution 
instructed  the  marquis 
rlcan  government,  the  de- 
;  •'  by  the  Apcciul  order  of 
,  which  the  goveninient 
je»ty,  concerning  the  calfl 
the  amicable  dittpntitions, 
owards  these  states,  hud 
)Mition.  vv'hich,  at  a  prior 
motives,  he  had  manifest*" 

arrangement  of  all  diflfer* 
e  Louisiana  purchase,  a 
ined,  in  rflation  the  boun- 
lestion  however  the  A  me* 
d  always  will  be,  willing 
and  to  settle  upon  the 
itt  of  Spain.  It  was  not, 
I  infla:me  the  Prince  Re- 
B  diplomatic  notes  of  the 
period  has  arrived,  when 
bors,  may  be  expected  to 
upon  the  state  of  her  co- 
ustice  and  magnanimity, 
pies,  she  will  tind  no  dif- 
»  of  the  American  gov> 
of  every  point  in  contro- 
ithout  seeking  the  aid  of 
limosity  of  British  coun- 

t  constant  interest  in  the 
lations,  cannot  hesitate  to 
nting  in  the  simplicity  of 
been  led  to  take  posses- 
ithstanding  the  claim  of 
territory.  In  the  accep- 
ed  States,  the  cession  of 
I  of  the  Mississippi  terri- 

jf>,  te  tluB  American  secretwy 

lOth  of  Jamiarv,  181 !.  See  the 
Sejilcmber,  8.'h  October,  ISli. 


it 

•«>rT,  and  eastward  of  the  river  Misttiistppi.  and  extendlrg  to  th» 
river  Perdido,  but  "  their  concili'itoiy  view**,  and  tluii  tonfi- 
dence  in  the  iinitiee  of  their  cause,  and  in  the  8Ut«ett8  oC  a 
e  mdid  discutision  and  amieable  ne^ociation  with  a  Jiisi  un<l  fi  i'  nd 
ly'  power,  induced  then)  to  ucquitsce  in  the  ti'mpoi ary  con- 
tinuanc  e  <if  that  territory  under  the  Sjianish  antholil^  f 
—•When,  however,  the  adju«imeiit  of  the  bnutidaiies  of  Lou- 
ifiuna,  as  well  as  a  rcai>tinable  indumtiificatiuo,  on  account  of 
maritime  spoliations  and  the  suspension  of  the  rikht  of  depo.-it 
»t  New  Orleans,  seemed  to  be  inditinitely  postponed,  on  the  ])art 
ef  Spain.  Uy  events  which  the  United  Hlutes  had  not  contribu- 
ted to  pro(hiee,and  could  not  control  ;  when  a  crisis  had  arriv- 
ed subveriiiveof  the  order  of  things  under  the  Spanish  authori- 
ties, contravening  the  views  of  both  parlies,  and  endangering  the 
tranquility  and  security  of  the  adjoining  territories,  by  the  in- 
trusive establishment  of  a  government,  independent  of  Spain, 
as  well  as  of  the  United  Stales ;  and  when  at  a  later  period, 
there  was  reason  to  believe,  that  Great  Britain  her^eir design- 
ed to  oceupy  the  Kloridas,  (and  she  has,  indeed,  actually  occu- 
pied P<-ngacola,  for  hostile  purposes,)  the  American  govern- 
ment, without  departing  fi-om  its  respect  for  the  rights  of  Spain 
and  even  consulting  the  honor  of  that  state,  unequal  as  she  then 
was.  to  the  task  of  suppressing  the  intrusive  estabiishmrnt,  wa4 
impelled  by  the  parumount  principle  of  self  preservation,  to  res- 
cue its  (wn  rights  from  the  impending  danger.  Hence  the  U- 
nited  States  in  the  year  1810,  proceeding  step  Ly  step,  accor- 
ding to  the  growing  exigencies  of  the  time,  took  possession  of  the 
country,  in  which  the  standard  of  independence  had  been  dis- 
played, excepting  such  phces  as  were  held  by  a  Spanish  force. 
In  the  year  1811,  they  authorised  their  president,  by  law,  provi- 
■ionaily  to  accept  of  the  possession  of  Kast  Florida  from  the 
local  authorities,  or  to  pre  occupy  it  agtrSnst  the  attempt  of  a 
foreign  power  to  seize  it.  In  1813,  they  obtained  'he  po.»<»e8sion 
ef  Mobile,  the  only  place  then  held  by  a  Spanish  foi^ce  in  West 
Florida;  with  a  view  to  their  own  immediati-  security,  but  with- 
eut  varying  the  questions  depending  between  them  and  Spain,  is 
relation  to  that  provin .  e.  A  nd  in  theyear  1814  the  A  merican  ( om- 
nander,  acting  under  the  sanction  of  the  law  of  nations,  hut 
unauthorised  by  the  orders  of  his  government,  drove  from  Pen- 
■aeolathe  British  troops,  who,  in  violation  if  the  neural  territory 
ef  Spain,  (a  violation  which  Spain  it  is  believed  must  herself  re- 
lent, and  would  have  resisted,  if  the  opportunity  had  occuned,) 
•eized  and  fortified  that  station,  to  aid  in  military  operations 
against  the  United  States.  But  all  these  measures  of  safety 
and  necessity  were  frankly  explained,  as  they  oecured,  to  the 
rovernment  of  Spain,  and  even  to  the  govertiment  of  (Jreat 
Britain,  antecedently  to  the  declaration  of  war,  with  the  sin- 
eercst  assurances,  that  the  possession  of  the  territory  thus  ao- 

f  See  the  proclamation  of  the  j»resi<lrnt  of  the  United  States,  ainhorlzing 
fovpi-nor  Claiborne  to  take  possession  of  the  territory,  dsted  the  ?rth  of  Oc- 
tober, laio. 


1^ 


2» 
.,,M    •  ^houUl  not  cea«e  to  be  a  .ubjsct  of  fair  and  fr..nUVy 

treuly  of  A.nRn^  ,„  '  „  ,'inatc  the  neulr.l  haffcinfeH  ot  An.c- 

rica  ;  but  the  >'•}  «  • '    '^l^    which  were  renewed  between  <.ieal 
»ran.  e..t.     The  ''-  f  f»  ;,^j;'\J\^."«.ercia..nedi.tely  follow- 

ed  by  a  renewal  o»  /'  ;"ff;'J';'^,iu,^,  i,.dei.e,!<lenie  of  the 
upon  tj-„  c;;n>"'-|;-'^  ':^a.e"ce  therefore^  an  interval  .c 
t'niled  States.    I  neie  wa»  sc  t,  aggrecMont 

inrating  the  aggression,  of  the  »''''\^";  '  r*  ^^^  aRurt>»io...- 
if  the  second  war,  and  aUhouj^h,  ^^^I'^l'^^l  incaloi^lably 
continued  to  he  the  Ka..uj  ^  ^^^^Xt^:\JnJ. 
„,ore  '»<'«l'-;'^:'':;«:.';,;;„\,';;!,Slt«  neutral  and  pacltic  policy 
gov«rnnu-u  '"'^^'^J//;  ';';S;"A,  J^  with  the  same  good  la.th 
in  every  exlrep.iity  o    '' «    ""^^^  \^-^\    y.^d  distinguished  it» 

and  forbearance  tnat,  in  ^'>'- '"""f'  "*;  ,Vo,n  the  alternative 
conduct;  until  it  was  *^""'l'«'l;;'^^"  ^ '^i*!;^ ';^'"  A„d  if  Great 
of  national  degradation  ^'': "f '""fj^^f.tio  Ameri  ',  declara- 
!!;;;;tri  wSlt^e-;:  r^^r^^ii-nalone  had  obst. 

i;;i,;^lo.ed  the  <l"-.f -f'it!5j;:^S5h.g  the  rup.«re 

The  American  mm.^te    at  Lo.  ocn,  ^"J'^-'l^^j^^f^  u«snrinceB 

between  tJre.t    IJrHun  and   I"  ranee    t.a  ^_^     ^^^^ 

f..on.  the  British  «-^'^\"'y'f''  '  ,;/\:J:,eer.s    tonld  be  drawk  up 
instructions  g.ven  to  the  >r  naval  f^^^^  ,       ^^^  ,5^1.  of 

^■ith  plainness  and, .vccis  on    an^^^^^  ^„j  ^i,^,,  d,, 

belligerents  «h««id  ^«  ^^  "^'!f  'j^^j  i„  ,elation  to  the  import- 
respect  for  tbo.e  of  "«"';,'^'^:,  +  ,„^",t^„lly  p,.,.pared  for  .igna- 

~  ^eTThrWtte.-  fron  the  secretary  oi' state  to  governor  Claiborne,  und  tU 

p,.nrbm.l,on,  .l.t.d  ''^^i'f '^  «'  '{^i  of  norida,  trnnsmUtcd  to  the  sccrc 
*^  SeetlHCi>v..rcea.ngsotthecon%en.K,no    r  t,,,, ■„„,,.,  in  !iis  Kttev  of 


t  Scf  -lie  IcUcrot  Air.  Kuif,  'm  V-ik  a. ...  m  -- 


'h  rt 


♦  of  fair  and  fiicnulj 

th«'  United  States  to 
will  be  nMiiidcd  by  c 
1 14)  viiidicttlf  their  na- 
julftlioiis  oi"  the  piiiicc 
lb»'.J.  iiiul  not  a»  auic- 
Lbeinitiu»fttioii«of  Ihal 
jii-fjiitlicL'*,  or  viiiiliot 
,  tiial  ttio  l'a«t       The 
iniuftle  the  war  in  l;'.u 
ral  hofleringH  of  Anic- 
it  i-c»i»cctH,  delusive  and 
enewi'd  between  (iical 
ei-ciaiinediately  follow- 
the  belli jifit'iit  |)0\vtrB 
til  indeijendeme  of   the 
urefore,  an  interval  so 
r  from  the  aggrefMonK 
lat.ire,  tho   ag^rt>»ioti»- 
(!y  beciune  incalov»labIy 
ever,  that  the  Auiericai. 
lutral  and  paoilic  jiolicy, 
,ith  the  same  good  laitU 
al,  liad  distinguished  itu 
obc  I'lom  the  alternative 
istancc       And  if  Great 
if  the  American  declara- 
Britain  alone  had  obsli- 
ociation.- 

anticii)aling  the  rupture 
had  obtained  uHsnranfOB 
n  the  event  of  war,  the 
ers  should  to  drawn  u-^ 
rcnerat,  that  the  rights  of 
odcralton,  and  with  due 
in  relation  to  the  import- 
;unlly  prepared  for  gigna- 
uvy  and  lord  St.  Vincent, 
years,  dcclarins  that  "  no 
upon  tho  high  Bcas,  and 

to  governor  Claiborne,  uiid  the 

10. 

or.da,  transmitted  to  the  sccrc- 

slppi  t<:ii-itorv,  in  Ins  Utter  ot 

uf  the  secrttury  of  state,  ualci 

TP  il'affiiirei!,  to  the  sdcretar}-  of 
Srcrttaiv's  answer:  „  ...  , 

r„f.  uiKlMv.  l-o.t.^:,thcRv-.tuU 

i!i(i  NoviUibiT,  i«t.;. 
iuryof  sU^e,  da'.i-dt...   i'-hri 


2S 

wlthwtthe  iuri»<'''ttoti  of  either  party,  be  deniandcd  or  trtk^;. 
out  of  any  »hip  or  ve.M-l.  belonging  t».  the  liii/ens  ur  buhjt* t.i 
of   one    of    tlic    parttei,    by    the  public    or    piuate    urn..-d 
ahipa.    or  men  of  war,    belonging  to  -.i-  in  Mie  fcervi.e  ol  tht 
other    party;    and    that   »tiict    order*   should  he    given    hT 
the  due  observance  of    the    e«gagemc„t.'t     T  »""  cenveiition 
which  explicitly  reliuqui^hed  iinpre.hmoi.t^fiom  Amenean  vei| 
B«U  on  tlie  high  b.:i.suha  to  which  the  Hriti»h  miuisiei»  hud. 
at  firM,  a^reerl.  lord  rtl    V  inc.  nt  wu»  de»iiousafteiuard«  to  mo 
difv    ••  Mating,   that  on  further  letlccHon,  he  was  ol    opiniuu, 
•hat  tho  narrow  i,ea»  should  be  expi-esbly  excepted,    ihev   hav^ 
inii  been,  a«  iu»  loideliip  remarked,   ininiemoriii  iy  cnHidered 
to  bo  within  Iho  dominion  of  Orcal  iiritain."      I  he  America,. 
jnini-iter.   hu'vever,    "havioK  »i'Ppo»cd,    from  the  tenor  ol    hiA 
conversHtiouH  wilii  lord  St.  Vincent,  that  the  uoctnne  ol    m.n« 
rtausuiii  wou\d  nut  he  revived  ajj.Hii.st  the  Viiiited  stales  on  lhi» 
occasion;  but  that  r.ngiund  would  be  eonlcnt  vHh  the  liiii.ca 
iurisdicfion  or  domin'on  over  the  ^eus  ndja^.nt  to  her  Icrrito- 
vie.s  which    ib  asHigncU  by  the  law  of    mttiuiiH  lo  other   states, 
was  disappointed,  on  lectivii.g  lord  *t.   ;  iiiceni's  c».mn.uiiua. 
«oa   and  ciiose  rather  tu  abandon  the  ijcgdi  iation  than  to  ac- 
quiesce in  the  doctcine  il    propos-ed  tu  eMuhlihh.'  i     But  it  was 
iitillHome  satisfaction  to  receive  a  fcrmal  deeluHtion  Ironi  tho 
British  government,   communicated  by  its  minister  at  yVash- 
ington,  after  the  recommencement  of  the  war  in  Ihirope,  which 
promised  in  eflcet,  to  reinstate  tlic  praclieo  of  iiavnl  blockades 
upon  the  principlef'  of  the  law  of  nations  ;   so  that  no  blockade, 
should  bo  con.'idcrcd  ase.xislins;,  "  unless  in  lespi  ct  of  particu- 
lar nort'^,  wiiioh  ijii;£ht  be  actually  invested,  and  then  tliat  the 
vessels  bound  to  such  ports  should  not  be  eaptared,  unlesa  they 
had  proviouslv  been  warned  not  lo  enter  thetn  "'* 

A 11  tho  precautions  of  the  American  aoverntnent  were,  never- 
theless,  ineft'c(  tnal,  and  the  asburaices  of  the  HriVibh  govei  nnient 
were,  in  .»o  instance,  vc;-itiod.  The  outrage  of  impressment  was 
agiiii'  iiidi^icriininately  perpetrated  upon  the  crt-w  of  every  A 
tncfican  vessel,  and  on  every  sea.  'I'lu^  enonn'ty  of  blockades- 
ost,ib!ished  by  an  order  in  council,  without  a  legitimate  object, 
and  maintained  by  an  order  in  council,  without  the  iipplication- 
of  a  coinp'tent  lorce,  was,  more  and  more  de.vdoped.  The 
rule,  denominated  "  the  rule  of  the  wir  of  1750"  was  revived 
in  nn  afl"!Ct'»d  style  of  modei-ation.  but  in  a  spirit  of  more  ri- 
jTorous  oxectitioi'i  t  The  lives,  the  liberty,  the  fortunes  .and 
the  hMpijii^.e-i  of  the  citizens  of  th(>  Tinted  Sfatef,  en^'ftged  in 
tlie  pursuits  of  navigation  and  commerce,  were  once  UiOi'e  sub- 


4  .Set'  til.-  letter  of  Mr.  Kiii;^,  to  the  sfcretury  of  M,ite,  H.ited  July  ISM. 

j  S.f  the-  l.Ui-r  of  Mr.  King,  to  du  secrt-l.try  cA  statf,  dii'ed  .luly,  IMv?.  ^ 

*  See  tlic  leltfT  of  .Mr.  M'-vrv,  lo  llie  scoi-et:  ry  i.f  slali,  dMfd  tlie  12lli  ni 
Alir,!,  1801.  ■i'v\  Ihr  «ni  loHod  copv  of  u  leuor  from  Mr.  Nf  ntuii,  the  s>(ro- 
t  .ry  of  ihf  ud  r,;i  ,iHy,  i«  M.'  Il.inmoiid,  dm  Orili  .h  under  swrc'.a;}-  ot  .stat«; 
for'fiir  en  .-iti'.iirs,  dated  .lun.  5,  \»i'i. 

t  See  il.e  o;.].:-;  ri  cj'.u:::'.  vf  '.Ic  :i'h  Iu:ie,  IcOJ,  and  the  JZthof  Au^'. 


24' 


hnUi  t6  the  violence  and  cupidity  of  the  Brithh  cru5zerB.  AnS'- 
inbiiet,  "o  grievous,  so  iutolera'ble,  had  tlie  affliction  of  the 
ration  becornti,  that  tiie  peopl»,  with  one  mind,  and  one  voices 
called  loudly  upon  t  leir  government,  fop  redress  and  pr  >tec- 
tlon;t  the  con(5i'e.8S  of  the  United  Stat'S,  participat.ing  in  the 
feelings  and  resenttrjents  of  the  time,  urged  upon  the  execu- 
tive mig  stPite,  the  necessity  of  an  iinmediat^fiamand  of  repa- 
ration from  up.^at  Britain  ;||  while  the  same  patriotic  spirit 
which  opposed  British  usurpation  in  1793,  and  encountered 
French  hostility  in  1798,  was  again  pledged  in  every  variety  of 
form,  to  the  maintainance  of  the  national  honor  and  indepen- 
dence, during  the  more  arduous  trial  that  arose  in  1805. 

Amidst  these  acpui'S  of  injustice  on  the  one  hand,  and  of  re- 
clamation on  the  other,  the  American  government  preserved 
its  equanimity  and  its  firmness.     It  beheld  much   in  the  con- 
duct of  France  and  of  her  ally  Spain  to  provoke  reprisals.  It  be- 
held more  in  the  conduct  of  Gteat  Britain,  that  led,  unavoida- 
bly (as*  had  often  been  avowed)  to  the  last  resort  of  arms.     It 
beheld  in  tli?.  temper  of  the  nation,   all  that  was  requisite  to 
justify  an  immediate  selection  of  Great  Britain,  as  the  object 
of  p  (le  laration  of  war.     And  it  could  not  but    behold  in  the 
policy  of  France,  the  strongest  motive  to  acquire  the    United 
States,  as  an  associate  in  ti»e  existing  conflFct.     Yet  these  con- 
sider.itions  did  not  tiien,  more  than  at  any  former  crisis,  sub- 
due the  fjriituJe.  or  inialaad  the  judgment  of  the  American 
govoi-nmeut;    but  in  perfect  consislency  with  its  neutral,   as 
well  as  itspacitic  sysiem,  it  demanded  attonement,  by  remon- 
etrances  Willi   France  and  Spain  ;   and  it  sought  the  preserv*' 
tion  of  peace,  by  negociat ion  with  Great  3ritain. 

It  has  been  shown  that  a  treaty  proposed,  emphatically,  by 
the  British  minister  resident  at  Piiiladelphia,  ''  as  the  means  of- 
dryinc  up  every  source  of  complaint  and  irration,  upon  the  head 
of  iinpi'esment,'  was  deemed  utterly  inadmissible,"  by  the  A- 
TO?rican  government,  because  it  didnot  sufficiently  provide  fof 
thatobjci'.t.^  It  has,  also,  been  shown,  that  another  treaty,  pro- 
posed by  the  American  minister  at  London,  was  laid  asid".  be- 
cause tlie  British  govermnent,  wiiile  it  was  willing  to  relin- 
quish, expressly,  impressments  from  American  vessels,  on  the 
hi'^h  seas,  insisted  upon  an  exception,  in  reference  to  the  nar- 
row seas  claimed  as  part  of  the  British  dominion;  and  expen- 
e-r^re  demonstrated,  that,  although  the  spoliations  committed 
upon  the  American  commerce,  might  admit  of  reparation,  by 
tii3  payment  of  a  pecunia'-y   equivalent:    yet,  consaltmg  the 

±See  the  memorluU  of  Boston   Nt  vv-Yoi-k,  i»h.1adelphia,  Baltimore,  StC 
pr-sciv.d  to  conip-ess  in  the  end  of  .he  ;,ear  WiS.  and  the  beginning  of  the 

''*i|'s>('  the  rMoUitinim  of  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  of  the  lOili  and 
14J\of  Febniai-y,  1806 ;  and  the  resolutive  of  the  house  ot  representatives 

•  "    lie  United  States.  ^.  ,       .,.,<..,  t. 

§  -ee  Mr.  I.'S  on's  Iv'tt.-r  t-  the  sec.-c'r.ry  of  state,  date*!  tlie  4th  of  lebni- 
ai"-,  1800;  an.l  the  le  tcr  .>f  Mr  Pi'-kciuK.  senctai-y  of  st;ite,to  the  Pr«W- 
dent  of  the  United  Stales,  dated  the  3 Jth  of  February,  itWO. 


ic  Brithh  cru5zerB.  And-' 
had  t lie  affliction  of  the 
ine  mind,  and  one  voice^ 

fop  redress  and  pr  Sec- 
t's, participating  in  the 

urged  upon  the  execu- 
mediat^fiamand  of  repa- 
le  same   patriotic  spirit 

1793,  and  encountered 
edged  in  every  variety  of 
onal  honor  and  indepen- 
hat  arose  in  1805. 
the  one  hand,  and  of re- 
I  government  preserved 
eheld  much   in  the  oon- 

provoke  reprisals.  Itbe- 
itain,  that  led,  unavoida- 
e  last  resort  of  arms.  It 
ill  that  was  requisite  to 
at  Britain,  as  the  object 
Id  not  but  behold  in  the 
e  to  ar quire  the    United 

conflFct.  Yet  these  con- 
l,  any  former  crisis,  sub- 
i^ment  of  the  American 
ncv  with  its  neutral,  as 
i  attonement,  by  remon- 
id  it  sought  the  preserv*" 
eat  3ritain. 

•oposed,  emphatically,  by 
ielphia,  ''  as  the  means  of - 
nd  ir  rati  on,  upon  the  head 

inadmissible,"  by  the  A- 
lOt  sufficiently  provide  fof 
1,  that  another  treaty,  pro- 
jondon,  was  laid  asid".  be- 
e  it   was  willing  to  relin- 

American  vessels,  on  the 
I,  in  reference  to  the  nar- 
ish  dominion ;  and  experi- 
he  spoliations  committed 
it  admit  of  reparation,  by 
lent:    yet,  consulting  th» 

i-k,  ''hiladelphis,  Baltimore,  fcc 
r  18^15,  and  the  beginning  of  the 

■  United  States,  of  the  lOili  and 
;  of  the  house  of  representatives 

of  stale,  date*!  tlie  4th  of  Febru- 
,  benetui-y  of  st;ae,to  the  Ptew- 
f  February,  1800. 


«5 

konor  and  the  feelings  of  the  nation,  it  was  impossible  to  reeeiv* 
•atisfaction  for  the  cruelties  of  inipresament,  by  any  other 
means,  thaa  by  an  entire  disaonti nuance  of  the  practice.    W  liet, 
therefore  the  envoys  extraordinary  were  appointed  in  the  year 
1806,  tonegociate  with  the  British  government,  every  authority 
was  given,  for  the  purposes  of  conciliation  ^  nay,  an  act  of  con« 
gress,  prohibiting  the  importation  of  certain  articles  of  British 
manufacture  into  tlie  United  States,   was  suspended,  in  proof 
of  a  friendly  disposition  fl  but  it  was  declared,  that  "  Uie  sup- 
pression of  impressment,  and  the  definition  of  blockades,  were 
absolutely  indispensable  ;"  and  that,  "without  a  provision  a. 
gainst  impressments,  no  treaty  should  be  concluded."    The  A- 
merican  envoys,  accordingly,  took  care  to  communicate  to  the 
British  commissioners,  the  limitations  of  their  powers.    Inflo. 
enred,  at  the  same  time,  by  •  sincere  desire  to  terminate  the 
differences  between  the  two  nations  ;  knowing  the  solicitude  of 
their  government,  to  relieve  its  seafaring  citizens  from  actual 
sufterance  ;  listening,  with  confidence,  to  assurances  and  expla- 
nations  of  the  British  commissioners   in  a  seiise    fevorable  f» 
their    wishes;  and  judging    from  a  state  of  information,  thM 
gave  no    immediate  cause  to  doubt  the  suflSciency  of  those  aa- 
•urtnccB  and  explanations-,  the  envoys,  rather  than  tern>inate 
the  negociation  without  any  arrangement,  weitj  willing  to  ret/ 
upon  the  efficacy  of  a  substitute,  for  a  positive  article  in  tlie 
treaty,  to  be  submicted  to  the  consideration  of  their  government, 
as  this,  according  to  the  declation  of  the  British  commissioners, 
was  the  only  arrangement,  they  were  peimitted,  at  that  time, 
to  propose,  or  t»  allow.      The  substitute  was  presented  in  tho 
form  of  a  note  from  the  British  commissioners  to  the   Ameri- 
can envoys,  and  contained  a  pledge,  "  that  instructions  had  been 
given,  and  should  be  repeated  and  enforced,  for  the  observance 
of  the  greatest  caution  in  the  impressing  of  British   seamen  • 
that  the  strictest oare  should  be  taken  to  preserve  the  citizeiSa 
of  the  United  States  from  any  molestation  or  injury ;  and  th&t 
immediate   and  prompt  redress  should  be  afforded,   upon  ariy 
representation  of  injury  sustained  by  them."* 

Inasmuch,  however  as  the  treaty  contained  no  provision  a. 
gamst  impressment,  and  it  was  seen  by  the  government.  whe» 
tne  treaty  was  under  consideration  for  ratification,  that  the 
pledge  coutamed  in  the  substitute  was  not  complied  with,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  that  the  impressments  were  continued,  with 
andimimshed  violence, in  the  American  seas,  so  long  after  the 
alleged  date  of  the  instructions,  which  were  to  arrebt  them  ; 
that  the  practical  inefficacy  of  the  substitute  could'not  be  doubt- 
edby  the  government  here,  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  was 
necessarily  declined;  and  it  has  since  appeared,  thst  after  a 
change  m  the  British  ministry  had  taken  place,  it  was  declar- 
edbythesecretvy  for  foreign  affairs,  that  no  engagements  were 

•;  Jiee  the  act  of  congress,  passed  the  18th  of  April,  1806 ;  and  the  act 
•uspemimg  it,  passed  the  19th of  December,  18(6. 

Sws  the  wM  of  the  Bfitish  ccmroissioneM,  «Uted  the  8th  of  Nov.  1806, 

V 


I  , 


26 

JJeaTv  without  an  e»P»*';*"'»VSroart  of  hi»  ma  esty,  in  the 
treity,  ^"•"  pegervation  «n  the  P**^*  "'  „  J  .i  that  with* 
intentions,  ^^  V.^^rrfit  should  even  occur     ana     «• 

The  re..rv."0»  »' '  P»"'V,»,.      a  'he -»2»"  If  IS 


"^'m  w  been  improper  for  "•«  *^  S  w  »P'""  ""=  '•'? 
wouU  h»ve  been    J  ,,ry  «ete  ««it.iiR  >       r    ^  ,  „i,^. 


,  a*  coniiect«a  with  the 
face  of  it.*  . 

with  unabating  •olici- 
wftl  of  the  nejooiatioM 
1  thit  course  w»«  P«- 
eminent,  to  be  "Wholly 

lepropoaed  treaty,  upon 
•nd  of  the  view  which 
titute ;  the  contempoTa- 
uMionera,  delivered  by 
to  which  ihe  American 
party,  or  to  give  thj 
led  by  the  American  go^ 

,n     hi  reference  w  the 
at  Berlin,  on  the  2l9t  of 

t  if  Fiance  •hould  carry 
Jon.and,ifV«eutralna- 

Id  acquiesce  in  such -.-• 
,e  compelled,  hov.ever  re- 
Fence,  and  to  adopt,  in  re 

nation.  '''t*^>^"*!S,i 
in.  Bhould  have  permitted 

jwithhi8«ubiect»:"'  that 

rtipulation.  of  the  present 

;be  United  States  of  their 

*rt  of  his  majesty,  in  the 
reoccur."  and" that wi^h. 

relinquisbment  of  the  un 

»ut  such  conduct  and  assur- 
eLwl^ouW  give  security 

fubmit  to  the  French  luno- 
maritime  iaw,  his  majes- 
by  the  present  signature  ot 
V  or  precluded  from  adopt- 
icessary  for  counteracting 

validate  a  "olemn  treaty   at 

^nd  the  menace  of  inflicting 

?or  the  offences  of  another 

5e  to  tHa-enes  of  violence 

outto  display,  and  which  It 

American  ne6««?^°"  *°  *"; 
*  wanting  to  explain  the  real 

X  and  before  It  ^jpo- 
10  have  known  the  eftect  oi 

.ica«envay«.  dated  27th  October. 

'..:«»♦,»  "^t  t  cf  Decembei 


27 

the  Berhn  decree  on  die  Ameiican  government;  nay,  even  be* 
'fore  the  American  government  had  itself  heard  of  that  decree, 
the  destruction  of  American  commerce  was  commenced  by  the 
order  in  council  of  the  7th  January,  1807,  which  aunuuiieed, 
*that  no  vessel  should  be  permitted  to  trade  from  one  port  to 
another,  both  which  ports  should  belong  to,  or  be  in  possession  of 
France,  or  her  allies;  or  should  be  so  far  under  their  control, 
as  that  British  vessels  might  nut  trade  freely  thereat."} 

During  thu  whole  period  of  this  oegociation  which  did  not 
€oaUy  close  until  the  British  Government  declared,  in  the 
month  of  October,  1807,  that  negociation  was  no  longer  adniis' 
-  aible,  the  course  pursued  by  the  British  squadron,  stationed 
more  immediately  on  the  American  coast,  was  in  the  extreme, 
vexatious,  predatory  and  hostile.  The  territorial  jurisdiction 
of  the  United  States,  extending,  upon  the  principles  of  the  law 
of  nations,  at  least  a  league  ever  the  adjacent  ocean,  was  total* 
ly  disregarded  and  contemned.  Vessels  employed  in  the  coast- 
ing trade,  or  in  the  business  of  the  pilot  and  tisherman,  were 
objects  of  incessant  violence ;  their  petty  cargoes  were  plunder- 
ed ;  and  eome  of  their  scanty  orews  wore  often  either  impvoss- 
ed,  or  wounded,  or  killed,  by  the  force  of  British  frigates.  Brit- 
ish ships  of  war  hovered,  in  warlike  display,  upon  the  coast; 
blockaded  the  ports  of  the  United  States,  so  that  no  vessel 
could  enter  or  depart  in  safety ;  penetrated  the  bays  and  rivers 
and  even  anchored  in  the  harbors  of  the  United  States,  to  exer- 
cise a. jurisdiction  of  impressment ;  threatened  the  towns  and 
villages  with  conflagration,  and  wantonly  discharged  musket- 
ry, as  well  as  canaen.  upon  the  inhabitants  of  an  open  and  un- 
protected country.  The  neutrality  of  the  American  territory 
was  violated  on  every  occasion ;  and,  at  last,  the  American  go< 
vernment  was  doomed  to  suffer  the  greatest  indi^^nity  which 
could  be  offered  to  a  soverign  and  independent  nation,  in  the 
»ver  memorable  atf^ck  of  a  British  60  g»m  ship,  under  the 
countenance  of  the  British  squadron,  anchored  within  the  wa- 
ters of  the  United  States,  upon  the  frigate  Chesapeake,  peacea« 
bly  prosecuting  a  distant  voyage.  >  The  British  government  af- 
fected from  time  to  time  to  disapprove  a.nd  condemn  these  out- 
rages;  but  the  ofl[?cers  who  perpetrated  ihem  were  generally 
applauded ;  if  tried,  they  were  acquitted ;  if  remevcd  from  thi- 
American  station,  it  was  only  to  be  promoted  in  another  sta- 
tion  ;  and  if  attonement  were  ofl'ered,  as  in  the  flagrant  in- 
•tanee  of  the  frigate  Chesapeake,  the  atonement  was  so  ungra^ 
cious  in  the  manner,  and  so  tardy  in  the  result,  as  to  betray 
the  want  of  that  conciliatory  spirit  which  ought  to  have  char- 
acterized it.» 

§  See  the  ordei-  in  council  of  January  7, 1 80/. 

•  See  the  evidence  of  these  fucXa  repoittd'to  conRress  in  Norembfl- 1806. 

Sec  the  documents  respecting  cajit.  Love,  of  the  Driver  ;c.iptian  M  hitby, 
of  the  liCander,  and  Captain 

dee  also  the  correspondence  respect inp  the  friptte  Clifsapcake,  with  Mr 
Coiininpr  at  London  ;  with  Mr.  Uoke  »t  Waslungton ;  wiih  Mr,  Erskinc,  ai 
W4aluiigton  J  and  with  ' 


Jj 


.truo  J.  of  .«  S«',r&;S -°~«  ^^  ""•  '-"P*"- 
tion,  could  not  fail  to  renaer  wi  imagina^ 

lively,  more  f  VhlTeSrS.  Te«  ridSced  The  just  and 
•Ute  of  peace,  to  which  n««»*^'"  Tj^^  ^g^d  to  be  its  shield 
Impartial  conduct  of  a  "S^J"^'^  ""'jnA^^^^  P"'*'" 

•nd  its  .afeguard,  ''^f^J^^^^l^f'^l.u  of  the  law  of 

towards  each  other,  became  the  on.y  en  ^^^^      ^^^^ 

war.    Thewrongcommittedbyoneotuie         B  1^^^^^^^ 

was  thus  made  the  ••6"?\/S^,''jjKn  government  com- 
wrong  by  the  other;  »"*^;f  *J*  ^erSthough  it  never  denied 
plainid  to  both  powers  «^«[ '"^^^i'^^Sid  an  idle  and  offen- 
fhe  cause,  of  '^^^'^';^^^^\;Tr.mc^i^-.  .ggre«"on. ; 
•ive  inquiry,  into  the  P"^"7  •  .^„<.b  aeainat  its  antagonirt, 
or  each  demanded  a  course  of  ""?**^"  *«.„„  rfght  of  self-go- 
which  was  calculated  *»  r^«?'S  Stat?  aS^^  i"'««»* 

Ternment,  and  coerce  the  U'^/^f  ^°*f  "'^Jg  i„  the  war.     But 

and  their  policy  i'^^**  t»««»™;8  JJ^ Tnd  n^^^^^^^ 

,he  American  6«vernment^ev^  d  d  a„d  n^^^.^  ,^^  ^ 

%  belligerent  power,     m  ^•'"'S  ";?"  ,         j^g  of  their  own  m- 

if  its  enemy,  and  to  «*«F\«P»"  *S*aT.troVt^^^^  rights  of  a  neu- 

iustice,"*  is  entitled  to  ^"^"'VltilShed    by  the  law  of  na- 

Iral  power,  as  y^^P'^^^^J'S^^^^;Jt.niuTe.  of  the 

tions.     It  was  i'np08"*»^%»*;?*l*'i:,d  U^^^^^     masked  fiom  the 

miscalled  retalliatory  system  «^««» Jj'« '^Jft,  of  professed  rew 

>„orld  ;  when  Great  BntamevenjnW^^    ^^  P^^^  ^^^ 

teUiation,de..Ured  that  F^nce  waj«na^  ^^^^^  .^ 

tile  denunciations  of  her  decrees  j^l  "       commerce  with  her 

herself,  ""blasUingljfcenteredmto  the  same ^  ^^^  ^.^^^ 

enemy  (through^'^t  *"^fV*StfrdiS^^  neutrals.- 

ees)  from  which  she  hai  interdtctea   un  6  ^^  ^^^^^^ 

The  pride  of  naval  'T""!!  L'.tmniue  a™d  di*rection  to  the 
ial  monopoly  >  g'^^^'Vni; *'ffi?e  i^st  although  vision. 
eounclUof  the  BrniSh ca^ne^^^^^^^  ,„apreixts.  for 

^-;SS:w^r£  .tjratd aol^tudcthe  .u. 
An^ttiTBrMlkmatton  of  thetnd  otSwh,  18W.     ^^ 


ing  the  exupenlMi 

irhich  interdicted  the 
ito  the  harbour*  an* 
imenced  hostilitiei  a- 
'easive  allianPi  with 
iliatory  efforU  to  en- 

ol  both  cationa. 
id  France,  now,  hoW- 
;h,  involving  the  de- 
vowed  principle  of  ac- 
ate  of  war,  compara- 

than  the  imaginaiy 
sduced.    The  just  and 
iased  to  be  its  shield 
he  belligerent  power* 
riterion  of  the  law  of 
ihe  belligerent  power*, 
petration  of  a  greater 
uan  government  con^ 
though  it  never  denied 
rud  an  idle  and  offen- 
respective  aggression*; 
,  against  its  antagonirt, 
aerican  right  of  self-go. 
1,  against  their  interest 
)ciate  in  the  war.     But 
d  never  can,  admit,  that 
©restrain  the  violence 
he  evils  of  their  own  m- 
poy.therightsofaneu- 
hed,  by  the  law  of  na- 
he  real  features  of  th© 
•  long  masked  ft'om  the 
ler  acts  of  professed  re- 
able  to  execute  the  hos- 
nd  when  Great  Britain 
lame  commerce  with  her 
ries,  perjuries  and  licen- 

unoflfending  neutrals.— 
the  cravings  of  commer- 
alse  and  direction  to  the 
the  vast  although  vision- 
easions  and  pretexts,  for 

uncils. 

Vashington,  In  the  year 

»  the  name  of  his  sover- 
•kade,  the  American  go- 
;eandBolieitude,the«u©- 

tmtf,  IWi'- 
lUtfJFi  1W» 


29 

ecssive  notlficaUotis  of  the  9t]i  of  August,  ISOlt,  tlje  8th  of  A- 
pril,  1806,  and  more  particularly,  of  the  16lh  of  Slay,  ItiOb,  an- 
nouncing, by  the  last  notification,  "a  blockade  of  the  coast,  ri. 
Vei'H,  and  ports,  from  the  river  Elbe  to  the  port  ol'  Brest,  both 
inclusive."}  In  none  of  the  notified  instances  of  blockade,  were 
the  principles,  that  had  been  recognized  in  1S04,  cdopted  and 
pursued,  and  it  will  be  recollected  by  all  Europe,  that  neither 
at  the  time  of  the  notification,  of  the  loth  of  May,  1806,  ;  nor 
at  the  time  of  excepting  the  Elbe  and  Ems,  from  the  opera- 
tion of  that  notification  ;%  nor  at  any  time,  during  the  contin- 
uance of  the  French  war,  was  there  an  adequate  naval  force, 
actually  applied  by  Great  Britain,  for  the  purpose  of  maintain- 
ing a  blockade  from  the  river  Elbe,  to  the  port  of  Brest.  It 
was  then  in  the  language  of  the  day,  "  a  mere  paper  blockade" 
a.  manifest  infraction  of  the  law  of  nations;  and  an  act  of  pecu- 
liar injustice  to  the  United  Slates,  as  the  only  neutral  power, 
against  which  it  would  practically  operate.  But  whatever  may 
have  been  the  sense  of  the  American  government  on  the  occa- 
sion; and  whatever  might  be  the  disposition,  to  avoid  making 
this  the  ground  of  an  open  i-upture  with  Great  Britain,  tho 
case  assumed  a  character  of  tho  highest  interest,  w  hen,  inde- 

{)endent  of  its  own  injurious  consequences,  France  in  the  Ber- 
in   decree  of  the  2l8t  of  November,  1806,  recited,  as  a  chief 
eaaae   for  placing    the  British  islands  in  a  state  of  blockade, 
«•  that  Great  Britain  declares  blockaded,  plawe  b«foie  which 
•he  has  not  a  single  vessel  of  War ;  and   even  places  which  Ler 
tinited  forces  would  be  incapable  of  blockading  ;  such  as  entire 
coasts,  and  a  whole  empire :  an  unequalled  abuse  of  the  right  of 
blockade,  that  had  no  other  object,  than  to  inten-upt  the  commu- 
nications of  different  nations;  and  to  extend  the  commerce  and 
industry  of  England,  upon   the  ruin  of  those  nations."*     The 
American  government  aims  not,  and  never  has   aimed,  at  the 
justification,  either  of  Great  Britain,  or  of  France,  in  their  ca- 
reer of  crimination  and  recrimination :  but  it  is  of  some  impor- 
tance to  observe,  that  if  the  blockade    of  May,  1806,    was  an 
unlawful  blockade,  and  if  the   right  (f  retaliation    arose  with 
the  first  unlawful  attack,  made  by  a  belligerent   power    upon 
neutral  rights.  Great  Britain  has  yet   to  answer  to    mankind 
according  to  the  rule  of  her  own  acknowledgment,  for  all  the 
calamities  of  the  retaliatory  warfare.     France,  whether  right  or 
wrong,  made  the  British  system  of  blockade,  the  foundation  of 
Uie  Berlin  decree  ;  and  France  had  an  equal  right  with    Great 
Britain,  to  demand  from  the  United  States,  an  opposition  to  e- 
very  encroachment  upon  the  privileges  of  the  neutral    charac- 
ter.   It  is  enough,  however,  on  the  present  occasion,  for  the  A- 
merican  government,  to  observe,  that  it  possessed  no  power  to 
prevent  the  framing  of  the  Berlin  decree,  and  to  disclaim   any 

«n.f"Vl!?  "■"'rowbj'snole  to  Mr.  Munioe.  dated  the  9lh  of  A.rgu.t. 
\  See  Lord  Howick's  note  to  Mr.  *fnnroe,  dated  the  35th  of  Sept,  1806. 


6««  the  Berlin  decree  of  the  21st  of  November,  1»06. 


Ml 


r 


30 

scribe  to  the  American  go^^^'^X  indizSs  and  the  outra: 

,K>s,e«ed  a  knowledge  of  ^^^  existence  m  ^^.^^^  ^^^^^^ 

Authorized  th«  conclusion  of  the  treaty  wi  jg^g 

which  wa.  ;''gn^<;.f^^r,t  ^rann^^^^^^^  ^^^  ^--^^  ''  P™",^! 
reserving  to  '^''}\*^^^1^,a  state»,l«  a  neutral  power,  did 
aid  not  revoke,  or  if  the  ^"«  ,;  y^^.  also,  been  shown, 

not  resist,  the  obnoxio.is  n^^"^*;,^^.;;  ascertain,  the  deter- 
that  before  Great  »'%"  «^"^t«^Sn  to  the  Berlin  decree, 
mination  of  the  ^n.ed  States,  in  rejam  ^^^e  issued, 

the  orders  in  council  of  *^*^J**i^f„i  France,  "  at  a  time  when 

professing  to  be  a  '«t*'«\;°;Xr>^«^«"  *'«"»"*'"  '^*'"^"**^ 
[he  fleets^f  France  and  »V«;  »^»;"  ^  valor  and  discipline  of 
within  their  own  ports,  by  the  8«pCT  .^^^  ^^^  ^^.^^^. 

the  British  n-vyrt  but  operating,  in^  a  ^^J^^^^^   ..  ^ 

States,  as  a  neutral  ^P^T"/'/"  P^ts  should  beteng  to,  or  be   lo 

port  to  another,  both  «^^»«J   Pf'^'fiies    or  should  be  so  far  un- 

fhe  possession  o  ,  France  "'^^Jif^^'^^u  might  not  trade  freely 

.     derSor  control,  as  lliatBr^-h^  ,. 

imtil  the  12th  of  March,  J^^' J^^^^^a  to  the  American  gov- 
residingal  Washiagon    coniman^*te    ^^^   ^^^^^^  .^  ^^^^^^j 

ernment,  in  the  "an^^/'lf  ?  Sion,  that  stronger  measurei 
of  January,  1807  ^'^^^^J.^^Sed  States  shoull  resist  the  c 
would  be  pursued, -unless  the  tiniiea  ^^  British  gc 

per-tions  of  the  Borim  deci^e4  jj,';.%™  iod  of  those  great 
?emment  was  reminded  'j'^^J^^'^^^ope,  instances  had  occur- 
events,  which  ««"*''«**l\*'ee  of  neutral  Rations,  more  especially 
Ted,  in  which  the  =0™'?"''^  ° 'I^enced  the  severest  distresses 
oi  th«  United  States  had  exper^enc^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
fromits  own  ordereand  mea8ures,man^^^^ 

law  of  nations,"  ^f^^'/P^funited^  States  would  render  them  ac- 
escence  en  the  part  ^f^^^^^y^f  one  belligerent  nation,  through 
cessary  to  the  P^°««t>5Lrainst  the  commerce  of  its  adversa- 
theirrightsof  f««*'-f'y'!fB;SJrto issue  sachordere,  unless 
S^rrrVo'f^rcSralXe^forcedaccordingtothe 

"hrsecreury  of  sU.'s  let.rto  Mr.  Erskine.  dated  the  .OUif 
March,  180»> 


;  in  its  operfctinn»- 
•  to  France,  to  pre- 
»c,  or  the  mode, 
168,  and  the  outra- 
i  turn,  awaJledthe 

•itish    government 
e  Berlin  decree,  it 
the  United  State», 
'  December,  1806, 
e  treaty,  if  France 
neutral  power,  did 
,  also,  been  shown, 
gcertain,  the  deter- 
)  the  Berlin  decree, 
,  1807,  were  issued, 
le,  "  at  a  time  when 
themeclves  confined 
lor  and  discipline  of 
against   the  UniUd' 
ir  trade    "from  on© 
belong  to,  or  be   io 
jhould  be  so  far  un« 
ight  not  trade  freely 
;ed,  that  it  was  not 
citbh  minifttep,  then 
,  the  American  gov- 
[le   ordero  in  council 
it  stronger  maasurea 
IS  should  resist  the  o- 
omentthe  British  go- 
period  of  those  great. 
I,  instances  had  occur- 
itions,  more  especially 
he  severest  distresses 
ly  unauthorized  by  the 
that  no  culpable  acqui- 
would  render  them  acr 
rerent  nation,  through 
nmerce  of  its  adversa- 
Bue  such  orders,  unless 
rdingtothelawof  na- 

«  sentiments  of  the  A- 
80  novel  and  important 
5Ver,  make  its  just  im- 

ofTtate.  dated  the  12th  of 
Erskinc,  dated  the  Mthef 


81 

aresBion  t^pon  the  British  cabinet;  for,  without  aMignirg  any 
Jew  provocation  on  the  part  of  France,  and  «»"'?'')' "'"6'  me^e. 
ly  that  neutral  powers  had  not  been  induced  to  interpose,  with 
effccr  to  obtain  i  revocation  of  the  Berlin  decree  (winch,  howo- 

ver.  Great  Britain  herself  had  »^ffi™f '*/«i«i?.f  ^f  V  \-J^htr 
and  inoperative)  the  orders  in  council  of  the  Uth  cf  Nuvember 
1807,  were  issuid,  declai^ng,  "that  all  the  ports  and  places  of 
France  and  her  allies,  or  o?«iy  other  country  at  war  with  hi 
majesty,  and  all  other  ports  or  places  in  Lurope,from  which,  al- 
though not  at  war  with  hismajesty,  the  British  flag  was  exclud- 
od  and  all  ports  or  places  in  the  colonies  belonging  to  his 
wijcstys  enemies,  sliould.  from  thenceforth,  be  subject  to  the 
same  restrictions,  in  point  of  trade  and  navigation,  as  if  the 
same  were  actually  blocfcaded  by  his  majesty's  i«val  forces,  in 
the  most  strict  and  rigorous  manner:"  that  "all  rade  in  arti- 
cles which  were  the  produce  or  manufacture  ol  the  said  eoun- 
tries  or  colonies,  should  be  deemed  and  considered  to  be  unlaw- 
ful ■"  but  that  neutttil  vessels  should  still  be  permitted  to  trade 
With  France  from  certain  free  ports,  or- through  ports  and  pla* 
ees  of  the  British  dominions  §  To  accept  the  lawful  enjoyment 
of  a  right  as  the  grant  of  a  superior;  to  prosecute  a  lawful 
commerce,  under  the  form*  of  favor  and  indulgence;  and  to 
pay  a  tribute  to  Great  Britain  for  the  privilege  of  a  lawful  tran- 
sit on  the  ocean;  were  concessions  which  Great  Britain  wa« 
disposed,  insidiously,  to  exact,  by  an  appeal  to  the  cupidity  of 
individuals,  but  which  the  United  States  could  never  .vitld,  con- 
sistently with  the  independence  and  sovereignty  of  the  nation. 
The  orders  in  council  were,  therefore,  altered,  in  this  respect. 
at  a  subsequent  period  jf  but  the  general  intertBct  of  neutral 
commerce,  applying  more  especially  to  American  commerce, 
was  obstinately  maintained  against  all  the  force  of  reason,  of 
remonstrance,  and  of  protestation,  employed  by  the  Aineritan 
government,  when  the  subject  was  presented  to  ite  considera- 
tion by  the  British  minister  residing  at  Washington.  The  fact 
assumed  ae  the  basis  of  the  orders  in  council  was  unequivocally 
disowned  ;  and  it  was  demonstrated,  that  so  far  from  its  being 
true  "  that  the  United  States  had  acquiesced  in  the  illegal  o- 
peration  of  the  Berlin  decree,  it  was  not  even  true  that  at  th* 
date  of  the  British  orders  of  the  Uth  of  November,  1807,  » 
single  application  of  that  decree  to  the  oommerce  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  on  the  high  seas,  could  have  been  known  to  the  JEtii- 
tish  government ;"  while  the  British  government  had  been  ofH- 
daily  informed  by  the  American  minister  at  liondoti,  "  that 
oxplanations,  uncontradicted  by  any  overt  act,  had  been  given 
to  the  American  minister  at  Paris,  which  justified  a  reliance 
that  the  French  decree  would  not  be  put  in  force  against  the 
United  States.'* 

§  Sec  the  orders  in  conncil  of  the  llth  of  November,  1807. 
It  See  Mr.  Canning's  letter  to  Mr.Pinkney,  23d  of  February,  1808. 
•  See  Mr.  Erskine's  letter  to  the  secretary  of  state,  dated  «nd  of  Febru- 
ary, IBOi;  and  the  answer  of  the  secret^  of  state,  dated  25tbof  March^ 


St 

The  British  onkriof  the  11th  of  November,   tB07,  s.-ere 
4|iickly  fuUowed  by  the   French  decree  of  Milan,  datrO  the 
17th  of   December,  1807,   ♦♦  which  wa»  said  to  be  resorted  to, 
•nly  in  ju«t  retaliation  of  the   barbarous  system  t dopted  by 
England,"   and  in  which  the  denationalizing  tendency  of  the 
orders,  is  made  the  foundation  of  a  declaration  in  the  decree, 
••that  every  ship  to  whatever  nation  it  might  belong,  that  should 
have  submitted  to  be  searched  by  an  English  ship,  or  to  a  voy- 
age to  England,  or  should  have  paid  any  tax  whatsoever  to  th» 
Knglish  government,  was  thereby,  and  for  that  alone,  declared 
to  be  denationalized,  to  have  forfeited  the  protection  of  its  sova- 
veign,  and  to  have  become   English  property,  subject  to  cap 
tare  as   good  and  lawful  prize:    that  the  British  Islands  were 
placed  in  a  state  of  blockade,  both  by  sea  and  land— and  every 
•hip,  of  whatever  nation,  or  whatever  the  nature  of  its  cargo 
might  be,  that  sails  from  ports  of  England,  or  those  of  the  En- 
glish colonies,  and  of  the  countries  occupied  by  English  troops, 
and  proceeding  to  England,  or  to  the  English  colonies,  or  to 
countries  occupied  by  English  troops,  should  be  good  and  law- 
ful prize  :  but  that  the  provisions  of  the  decree  should  be  abro- 
gated and  null,  in  fact,  as  soon  as  the  English  should  abide  a^ 
gain  by  the  principles  of  the  law  of  nations,  whieh  are,  also,  the 
principles  or  justice  and  honor."t     In  opposition,  however,  to 
the  Milan  decree,  as  well  as  to  the  Berlin  decree,  the  Ameriean 
government  strenuously  and  unceasingly  employed  every  in- 
strument, except  the  instruments  of  war.  It  acted  precisely  to- 
'    "  •      ■    -  '    :'^^,ZJlJ^.  pn  similar  oc- 

euions  •  but  France  remained,  for  a  time,  as  insensible  to  t!r» 
clam- of  justice  and  honor  as  Great  Britain  each  imitating 
?h"^Jher^n  extravagance  of  pretension   and  m  obstmacy  of 

**"when  the  American  government  received  intelligence  that 
throrders  of  the  llth  e?  November,  1807,  had  been  under  the 
lonsiderr"  on  of  the  British  cabinet,  and  were  actually  prepar- 
ed  for  promulgation,  it  was  anticipated  that  France,  in  a  zealoue 
OTOsecStion  orthe  ^taliatory  warfare,  would  soon  produce  an 
Srof,  at  least,  equal  injustice  and  hostility.  Thecnsis  existed 
therefore,  at  which  the  United  States  were  «o"),P*"^Vcn™™e.! 
liSer  to  withdraw  their  seafaring  citizens  and  their  commer. 
eS  wedtrfrom  the  ocean,  or  to  leave  the  interest  of  the  marin- 

ep  aiTd  the  merchant  exposed  to  certain  «!«»  r*^*^""  '  "^n,.  Sf 
er  »"u  w  „„♦;„»  war   for  the  protection  and  defence  of 

fSTnteCstr  S  princ&erandth^^  of  the  American 

l^'overimenr  were  stUl^i  to  neutrality  and  peaee-      Jj 

SSeSS  the  nature  and  the  amount  of  the  aggressions  which 
weigning  t    .  ^  ^hj^h  were  threatened,   if  there 

wfre  a^y  pC<S»dillnce  to  determine  the  balance,  against  one 
Tf  the  beCerent  powers,  rather  than  the  oth^r.  as  the  object 
ff  a  decSion  of  war;  it  was  against  "7^  B^i^l^l^'^J^jS: 
upon  the  vital  interest  of  impressment ;  and  the  obviou.  supen. 

-f^uiTMiJwi  decree  of  the  17U»  of  December,  1807. 


intber,   1807,  s.'«tr»' 
f  Milan,  dated  the 
1  to  be  retorted  to; 
■y8tem  tdopted  by 
ig  tendency  of  the 
itton  in  the  decree, 
belong,  that  should 
h  ship,  or  to  a  voy* 
(  whatsoever  to  th« 
;bat  alone,  declared 
rotection  of  its  sova- 
rty,   subject  to  cap- 
kitish  Islands  were 
nd  land — and  every 
nature  of  its  cargo 
or  those  of  the  En- 
I  by  English  troops, 
li»h  colonies,  or  to 
Id  be  good  and  law* 
;ree  should  be  obro- 
;li»h  should  abide  ■» 
whieh  are,  also,  the 
ofition.  however,  to 
Bcree,the  Ameriean 
employed  every  in- 
t  acted  precisely  to* 
»U.  pn  similar  oc- 
as  insensibte  to  lire 
ain.  each  imitating 
and  in  obstinacy  of 

red  intelligence  that 
,  had  been  under  the 
vevti  actually  prepar- 
France,  in  a  zcalou» 
uld  soon  produce  an 
r.    The  crisis  existed, 
;  compelled  to  decide 
,  and  their  commer- 
interest  of  the  marin- 
estruetion  ;  or  to  en- 
ection  and  defence  of 
bits  of  the  American 
ility  and  peace.      In 
he  aggressions  which 
threatened,   if  there 
1  balance,  against  one 
e  other,  as  the  object 
real  Britain,  at  least, 
id  the  obvioUB  soperi- 

;r,  1807. 


orfty  of  her  naval  means  of  annoyance.  The  Prent*  intHtC 
Wnre,  indeed,  as  obnoxious  in  their  formation  and  d«  sipn  asths 
British  orders;  but  the  government  of  France  claimed  tnd  ex- 
ercised no  right  of  impressment ;  and  the  maritime  spolialiona 
of  France  were  comparatively  restricted,  not  only  by  her  own 
weakness  on  the  ocean,  but  by  the  constant  and  pervading  vr- 

S nance  of  the  fleets  of  her  enemy.  The  diflSculty  of  seliction^ 
e  indiscretion  of  encountering,  at  once,  both  of  the  oflcnrimg 
Bowem ;  and,  above  all,  the  hope  of  an  early  return  of  justice, 
under  the  dispensations  of  the  ancient  public  law,  prevaiUd  m 
the  councils  of  the  American  government ;  and  it  was  renolved 
to  attempt  the  preservation  of  its  neutrality  and  its  peace ;  of 
its  citizens,  and  its  resources ;  by  a  voluntary  suspension  ot  the 
commerce  and  navigation  of  the  Ihiited  States.  If  is  true,  that 
far  the  minor  outrages  committed,  under  the  pretext  of  the  ru  e 
of  war  of  1756,  the  citizens  of  every  denomination  had  rtemaid- 
ed  from  their  government,  in  the  year  1»06,  protection  and  re- 
dress; His  true,  that  for  the  unparalleled  enormities  of  the  year 
1807,  the  citizens  of  every  denomination  again  demanded  from 
their  government  protection  and  redress :  but  it  is.  also,  a  truth, 
conclusively  established  by  ever.-  manifestation  of  the  sense  of 
the  American  people,  as  well  as  of  their  governnjcnt,  that  any 
honorable  meant  of  protection  and  redrett,  were  preferred  to 
the  latt  resort  of  armt.  The  American  goveniment  miRht  ho- 
norably retire,  for  a  time,  from  a  tcene  of  conftict  and  collision  j 
but  it  could  no  longer,  with  honor,  permit  its  flag  to  be  ln8ul^ 
ed,  its  citizens  to  be  enslaved,  apdita  property  to  be  piUBdered; 
•ft  the  bighway  of  natlont. 

Under  these  impressions,  the  rettrictive  tyitem  of  the  United 
States  was  introduced.     In  December,  1807,  an  embargo  wa» 
imposed  upon  all  American  vessels  and  merchandise  4  on  prin- 
ciples similar  to  those,  which  originated  and  regulated  the  em- 
bargo law,  authorised  to  be  laid  by  the  president  of  the  United 
States,  in  the  year  1794:   but  soon  afterwards,  in  the  genuine 
ipirit  of  the  policy,  that  prescribed  the  measure,  itv\as  declared 
by  law,  "  that  in  the  event  of  such  peace,  or  suspension  of  ho»- 
tilities,    between  the  belligerent   powers  of    Europe,    or  such 
changes  in  their  measures  affecting  neutral  conmerce.  as  mi|.ht 
render  that  of  the  United  States  safe,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
president  of  the  United  States,   he  was  uutliorised  to  suspend 
the  embargo,  in  whole  or  in  part."ll    The  pressure  of  the  em- 
bargo was  thought,  however,  so  severe  upon  every  part  of  the 
community,  that  the  American  government,  notwithstanding 
the  neutral  character  of  the  measure,    determised  upon  some 
relaxation  ;  and,  accordingly,  the  embargo   being  raised,  as  "to 
aM  other  nations,  a  system  of  non-intercourse  and  non  importa- 
tion was  subj-titued  in  March,  1809,  as  to  Great  Britain   and 
France,  which  prohibited  all  voyages  to  the  British  or  Freaeb 

i  Seethe  a«t  of  con)^i«s«,  passed  the  22nd  of  December,  180r 
t  See  tUe  act  of  congii.js,  passed  the  ^Sudof  Agnl,  1»0». 


0 


.hi 


34 

rloMiniOM,  an«*  all  trade  in  Miiclos  of  DritUh  or  French  . 
:lrt  o  man"  ucture  .  •  But  atiU  adhering  to  the  neutra  an* 
mt-ifii-  policy  of  the  government,  it  wasdecUrtd,  "  that  '-ae  P»^ 
Tdcnt  of  ihe^Unit.d'^SlateB  .l.ould  be  author..cd  «n  ca-e  e.the^ 
France  or  Great  Britain,  thould  io  rev.ke  or  modify,  ber^ 
did-  a»  tliat  thev  .l>ouid  cea.e  to  violate  the  neutral  coxn- 
nerc'e  of  the  Uditcd  State.,  to  declare  the  same  by  pi-oc  ama- 
Son  af  eril»ich  the  trade  of  the  Cnited  Slat«  ""K^  l;*  J^- 
neled  with  the  nation  .0  doing.*  Theee  appeal.  »« >»'«  J"'*'" 
and  the  inmeBts  of  the  belligerent  pov^era  P'«?""8 '"f «^i'"Ji: 
and  the  necessities  of  the  country  increasn.fr  'V'^"  °^*]ln* 
t^lvcVby  the  Atnerican  governmont.  to  *»*•*  ^J^^^^Jf^'riJ^^J 
war  ;  to  l-evoke  it«  restvictive  syHtem  ;  and  »°  "^'f*  *7^  J^ 
and  French  armed  vessels  from  the  hurbours  Mid  «»»«»  "^/^ 
V,"  ted  Ste.  i  b.^,  again,  emphatically  to  ».jnoance  that  m 
ca  e  either  Gre'at  Britain  or  France,  'l'^^^^^^^"  ^^^^^^^^ 
of  March.  18U.  «o  revoke,  or  mod-fy,  her  «<licts.  as  tb« 
Siev  should  cease  to  violate  the  neutral  ««™«"".,?f  *«  Y; 
„i,?d  9?a"est  and  if  the  other  ""^^ion  should  not.jUbmthre. 
months  ther;after,  so  revoke,  or  modify  >;Yn.  '  ^^JJ"  i^^S^o^ 
ap.- "  tha  nrovisons  of  the  non  ntercourse  and  non  importaiion 
?aw  sWratth.  expiration  of  three  months  be  revived  agai"rt 
So  naUon  refuiing  or  ..glecting.  to  revoke,  or  modify  ite  •• 

^In^ihe  coor.e  which  the  Amencan  government  had  hifl^erto 
Bursued  relative  to  the  belligerent  orders  and  decree.,  the  cai^ 
SwZei^t  aswellastheViolic  citizen,  "ay  percejve  «» 
«ctreme^citade,  for  the  preservaton  of  peace;  but  ntl«.pu^ 
lic.ty  and  impartiality,  of  the  over  ure  that  was  thus  spreM 
before  the  belligerent  powers,  it  «  '•"P^'^'^J"' *^*\.*i"y  ^e  J- 
tioushonld  be  found,  of  foreign  influence  or  ««f  7^\.  JJ^"^. 
verture  was  ureed  upon  both  nations  for  acceptance,  at  the  Bamo 
S  and?n  th^esame  manner;  nor  was  an  '•'t'^^'^-J^'^S^',^ 
from  either  of  tiiem,  that  "  it  might  be  regarded  by  ^^e^»'g« 

lis  enemy.  4.     jj»vi.  „i„j_^J  tl.nt  its  measures  were  Vi» 

the  retaliatory  system,  acknowledged,  t''*tiu  meas 

elations  of  pfiblic  law;  and  each  P««^6««^,^;»°'^'?,jf '  ^  th^^^ 
whenever  the  otb^r  should  set  the  example,!     Although 


eorti«iling  the  interests  of  tn*-  nvai  pt>«crB   -  t  -  y  Wga 

the  dluv^hich  they  owed  to  the  neutral  f '"if  J^^^^'^/hb^^^^^^ 
States :  and  when  the  British  minister,  residing  at  Wasningi 

"„  See  tii'e  act  of  Confn-ess  passed  the  first  <Uv  of  March,  1809. 

*  Sec  the  act  of  c.^^press,  passed  the  first  "•  ^ay,   i   Ju  ^^^j.._ 

I  See  the  correspondence  l.ctwcen  the  secretaiy  ot  state,  an 

<ian  roiniHtevRatI.ondoi>aml  Pans.  „        time  to  time  by  the  presi- 

I  Stc  the  documents  laid  before  congress  trom  lune  w  uo«   7 

4ant,  and  printed. 


iUil)  or  French  pnw 
g  lo  the  n«utral  »n4 
Uied,  "  that  tae  pr»- 
loriscd  in  ca*e  either 
ke  or  modify,  l>er  o- 
ftte  the  neutral  com- 
bame  by  fU'cclania* 
State*  niiglvt  be  le- 
appeals  to  Uie  justice 
I  proving  ineffectual ; 
ii)g,  it  was  finally  re- 
Lak«  the  haaards  of  • 
id  to  exclude  Briti»h 
an  uid  waters  of  the 
to  announce,  that  in 
kid,  l»efore  the  third 
,  her   edicts,  as  that 
conuneree  of  the  U- 
uld  not,  within  three 
ter  edicts  in  like  man* 
!  and  n on  importation 
ithsbe  revived  against 
oke,  or  modify  itf  •■ 

eminent  had  hitherta 
and  decrees,  the  can«- 
iaen,  may  perceive  an 
peace ;  but  in  the  pub« 

that  was  thus  gpread 
sible,  that  any  indica- 
e  or  control.  The  o- 
jceptance,  at  the  samO' 
in  intimation  withheld 
Bgardedby  thebellige- 
self,  and  a  warning  to 
the  commencement  of 
it  its  measures  were  vi- 

itgolf  to  retract  them, 
ilc.il     Although  the  A- 

in  it* remonstrances  ar 
t  regard  to  the  questio* 
•ness,  every  hope  of  re- 

with  a  performance  of 
character  of  the  United 
Bsiding  at  Washington, 

of  March,  1809. 
:ongrcs9. 

lav,  1«10.         ,  ,     .      .. 
My  of  state,  and  the  Amen- 

^  tune  to  time  by  the  prcsi- 


35 

S^Knoic  mS??^ ori-s  in*  c7u';iUf  January  and  Nc^t-nv 
£^lKhU\een  ^^Ujdrawn,  as  -pe- th^.  U  Sutos. 

Ilrcotirse  law  ^d  by  the  acts  ol  congreM  '.a;,  in«  and  enlorcmg 

litie  pT^e'ffhrU^t^d  mates,  -»';.»'}-j-"''^,,lrofT,' 
intentions;  andin  all  the  confidence,  wh.ch  the  offica^  t'  Uu  r '" 
representative  of  his  Brita.inic  majesty,  *'"'='^i="'*;*^ 'Vi^af L^^^ 
The  act.  and  the  authority  for  the  act.  were.  ^°««;^,^.  ^^'  JJ^*,  . 
Mi  hv  Great  Britain ;  atld  an  attempt  was  mndc,  by  the  snctts. 
:Jr  o^f  Mr  BfskJnl,  through  the  ailof  Insinuations,  «^.Kjh  wer^  ■ 
SgnantlyrepuWd,  to  justify  the  British  rejectaon  of  t^^^^^^^^ 

tv  of  1809  bv  referring  to  the  American  rejection  of  »««  ^'^^^y 
S  fJiTCet7ul  of  L  es^ntial  points  of  difterence  tha   Hj.; 

British  government,  on  the  f«f"»«^«''<'"'7; '^*'' ^j^c^,  "f 'owl 
ly  apprised  by  the  Ammcan  ^ioinitn*  i^Uhtu  <i*hct  oiJOW.^ 
/r ;  and  that  the  execution  of  the  projected  treaty  bad  not,  on 
either  side,  been  commenced  T  .     »  »„^  i.„T,n,«»,l*  r«.' 

After  this  abortive  attempt  to  obtain  »  J"»  *"f,J"J'S^ 
vocation  of  the  British  ordersin  council,  the  Y^'^^^,^  f^'^X^ 
•eain  invited  to  indulge  the  hope  of  safety  and  tranquil  ty.  when 
Se  miSer  of  Franfe  announced  to  the  American  n;'n»ter  at 
Paris    that  in  consideration  of  the  act  of  the  1st  of  May.  U.09.. 
S  which  the  congress  of  the  United  »*•»«»"  «F«g^^'?/Sl- 
Self  tathat  one  of  tl.e  belHg.  rent  ?«>*;:«"  ''^"^^^^^^IVtode 
to  acknowledge  the  rights  of  neutrals,  he  was  autho"*«V«^°«: 
claJe  thrt  thf  decrees%f  Berlin  and  Milan  were  revoked,  and  • 
thS^afterthe  1st  of  November,  1810,  they  ^^'^'d, ^•"^^^  if/^l 
effect;  it  being  understood,  that  in  consequence  ot  that  '^^I'ra^ 

tion,  the  English  should  revoke  ^h"''/'^""  ;",^«Xd  ^^cd 
nou^ce  the  new  principles  of  blockade,  which  they  had  wnshcd 

to  estabhsh ;  or  that  the  United  States,  ^^"fo^^^^  *«  ^^Fn- 
of  congress,  should  cause  their  rights  to  ^^J^X'-tlVr^lttY^ 
Iwsh  "ft  This  declaration  delivered  by  the  official  organ  of  t^e 
lovernment  of  France,  and  in  the  piesence,  as  it  were,  of  the 
-lilT^iTcorrespondencebetwcen  Mr.Bwkine  theBr^^^^  nnij^ister^  snd 
the  secretary  of  state  on  the  17th,  18th,  and  19th  of  April,  18W9.  ana  loc 
President's 'proclam»t.i()n  of  the  last  date.  »    ,.*»  ,„j  Mr    lack. 

f  See  the  correspondence  between  the  secreUry  of  sUte,  and  Mr.  Jacr. 

«on,  the  Uritish  minister.  ^       _« .j„*.,i  ♦»«.  5th  of  Ail. 

it  See  the  duke  de  Cadcre's  letter  to  Mr.  Armstrong  dated  the  5th  oi  ab. 

CU8!«  i8ia 


36 

Prioe3moyf.Tf\gn,  vrnief  tho  highest  tiithoritj,  toeordia|;t9  mI) 
the  ru1«-H  of  diplomatic  inftrco'iruo  ;  and,  oertunly,  fur  *uri)aR<4cdl 
fcny  claim  of  crcdcin'«',  whicli  wo»  nusiCHiicd  by  the  British  mi 
fiiatcr,  residing  at  WasbinEton,  whun  the  Hrrangcmi-nt  of  the 
year  1809,  wa«uc>;eptedanu  rxccatrdby  the  Aiiivrican  ftovcrn- 
lacnt.  The  precident  of  the  United  titatat,  therefor*?,  owed  to 
the  coniii«t«iicy  of  his  own  character,  and  to  the  dictateit  of  « 
•incere  impartiality,  a  prompt  acceptance  of  the  French  over- 
ttire :  and,  accordingly,  the  authoritative  promiN,  that  the  fact 
•houlU  exist  At  the  Htipulated  period,  being  again  admitted  at  con- 
elusitc  evidence  of  ita  exintence,  a  proclamation  waa  issued  on 
the  Sd  of  November,  1810,  announcing  '-that  the  edicts  of 
France  had  been  so  revoked,  aa  that  they  t>eased,  on  the  bt  day 
of  the  sanio  month,  to  Violate  the  neutr:il  commerce  of  the  U 
States:  and  that  all  the  restrictions  imposed  by  the  act  of  con- 

KiHs,  should  then  cease  and  be  diMontinued,  in  relation  to 
anee  and  her  dependenetes."ft  That  France,  from  this  o- 
toch,  refrainad  from  all  atfgressiona  on  the  high  seas,  or  even  in 
Bet-  oWo  ports,  upoli  the  persons  and  the  property  of  the 
citizens  or  the  U.  States,  never  was  asserted ;  but,  on  th» 
contrary,  h*t  violence  and  her  spoliations  have  been  unceasing 
causes  of  complaint.  Those  subsoquent  injuries,  eonatituting  ai 
ffrt  of  the  exiating  reeUmationa  of  the  United  States,  were,  al- 
ways, however,  disavowed  by  the  French  government ;  whilst 
tike  repeal  of  the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees  has,  on  every  occa^ 
fion,  bo«B  ftfflrm«d ,  inaoiauch  (h»(  &reai  Btitain  hAraelr,  Wil^ 
M  iasr,  compelled  to  yield  to  the  evidence  of  the  fact. 

On  the  expiration  of  three  months  from  the  date  of  the  presi- 
dent's proclamation,  the  non-intercourse  and  non  importation 
law  was,  of  course,  to  be  revived  against  Great  Britain,  unless, 
during  that  period,  her  orders  in  council  should  be  revoked.—* 
The  subject  was,  therefore,  most  anxiously  and  moat  stnadily 
fvessed  upon  the  justice  and  the  magnanimity  of  the  Brittsh  go- 
'vernment ;  and  even  when  the  hope  of  success  expired,  by  the 
lapse  of  the  period  prescribed  in  one  act  of  congress,  the  United 
States  opened  the  door  of  reconciliation  by  another  act,  which, 
in  the  year  1811,  again  provided,  that  incaae,  at  any  time,  "  O. 
Britain  should  so  revoke  or  modify  her  edicts,  as  that  they  shall 
cease  to  violate  the  neutral  commerce  of  the  United  Sutes ;  the 
president  of  the  United  should  declare  the  fact  by  proclamation ; 
aitd  that  th«»  restrictions,  previously  imposed,  should,  from  the 
date  of  such  proclamation,  cease  and  be  discontinued."*  But, 
unhappily,  every  appeal  to  the  justice  and  magnanimity  of  Great 
Britain  was  now^^as  heretofore,  fruitless  and  forlorn.  She  had, 
at  this  epoch,  impressed  from  the  crews  of  American  merchant 
vessels,  peaceably  navigating  the  high  seas,  not  less  than  six 
thousand  mariners,  who  claimed  to  be  ciMzens  of  the  United 
States,  and  who  were  denied  all  opportunity  to  verify  their 
claims.   She  had  seized  and  confiscated  the  commercial  proper^ 

ff.  Sue  the  President's  proclamition  of  the  2m\  of  November,  1810. 
*  See  Ute  act  of  congress,  passed  the  3iid  of  March,  Ull . 


39 


ority,  ftQcordiof;  to  •!) 
>ertunly,  fur  #ur|)a»«ti' J 
nod  by  tKe  British  mi 
le  arrangpmcnt  of  llie 
the  Aiiiurican  jiovcrn- 
«•,   tlierefore,  owed  to 
td  to  the  dictates  of  a 
;e  of  the  French  over- 
proDiiM,  that  the  fuct 
again  admitted  aicon- 
amation  was  isaued  on 
ig  'that  the  edicts  of 
I'eaaed,  on  the  lut  day 
1 1  coiumurce  of  the  U 
Bsed  by  the  act  of  con- 
itinued,   in  relation  to 
Franee,    from  thii  e- 
le  high  «ea«,  or  even  in 
1  the  property  of  the 
isterted ;    but,    on  th» 
tt  have  baea  unceaiing 
injuriea.  eonatituting  & 
Jnited  Statea,  were,  ml* 
eh  govemmmt ;  whilaC 
ees  haa,  on  every  occa> 
It  Bviuin  htneir,  wi»^ 
e  of  the  fact, 
n  tha  date  of  the  proai- 
>e  and  non  importation 
Great  Britain,  unlesa, 
I  should  be  revoked. — 
■sly  and  moat  atnadily 
mity  of  the  Britiah  go- 
luccesa  expired,  by  the 
if  congreia,  the  United 
by  another  act,  which, 
!aae,  at  any  time,  "  O. 
licts,  aa  that  they  shall 
the  United  Statea ;  the 
)  fact  by  proclamation ; 
jsed.  should,  from  the 
discontinued."*     But, 
magnanimity  of  Great 
tnd  forlorn.     She  had, 
!>f  American  merchant 
»■,    not  less  than  sis 
iMzens  of  the  United 
•tunity  to  verify  their 
e  commercial  properjr 

of  November,  1810. 
rch,mi. 


•f  AtncrtcM  citiien*  to  an  hicaloulabl*  Antount.  She  had  anit* 
«d  in  the  enormities  of  Prance,  to  dt-clarc  a  great  proportion  uf 
the  terrtforoua  globe  in  a  atate  of  blockade ;  ehasiug  the  Auie« 
rican  merchant  lUg  efTectually  from  the  ocean-  She  liad  con- 
temptuuusly  disregarded  the  neutrality  of  the  America*  territo* 
ry,  and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  American  laws,  within  tlie.  wa- 
ters and  harbors  of  the  United  States.  She  was  enjoying  the 
•molivments  of  a  surreptitious  trade,  ataiaed  with  every  specie* 
of  frsud  iMi d  eorruptiun,  which  gave  to  the  belligerent  {.eweri, 
the  advantages  of  peace,  while  ttic  neutral  powers  were  involv- 
ed i»  the  evils  of  war.  She  had,  in  short,  usurped  and  exerci.«< 
eJ  va  the  wnt'T,  a  tyranny  similar  to  that,  which  her  great  an- 
taguniAt  had  usurped  and  exercised  upon  the  land.  And,  amidst 
allUicse  proofs  of  ambition,  and  avarice,  ahe  demanded  that  the 
victims  of  her  usurpations  and  her  violence,  should  revere  her 
•a  the  sole  defender  of  the  rights  and  libertiea  of  mankind. 

Wiiea,  therefore,  Great  Britain,  in  manifest  violation  of  her 
•olrinii  proniisett,  refuM'd  to  fviiow  the  example  ot  l-iai  ce,  bf 
the  repeal  of  her  orders  in  cuuni^l,  the  American  guverniueiit 
was  compelled  to  contemplate  a  r«sort  to  arms,  as  the  oni>  re- 
maining course  to  bp  pursued,  for  its  honor,  its  independence, 
and  its  safety.  Whatever  depended  upon  the  United  Statea 
themselves,  the  Unite'l  States  had  performed  for  the  preser- 
vation uf  peace,  in  resistuneo  of  the  French  decrees,  aH  ^vcU 
as  of  the  British  orderi).  What  fiad  been  reqtii red  from  France 
in  its  relation  to  the  ncutml  character  of  the  United  Statet, 
France  had  performed,  by  the  revocation  of  its  Berlin  and  Mi- 
lan decrees.  But  whnt  depended  upon  Great  Britain  for  the 
purposes  of  jiisliue,  in  the  repeal  of  her  ovders  in  council,  was 
withheld;  and  new  evasions  were  sought,  when  the  old  were  ex- 
hausted. It  waft,  at  one  time,  allepicd,  that  satisfactory  proof 
was  not  afforded,  that  France  had  rt>pcaled  her  decrees  against 
the  commerce  of  the  United  Statea ;  as  if  such  proof  alone  were 
wanting,  to  ensure  the  performance  of  the  British  promise  f— 
At  another  time,  it  waa  in8i)<ted,  that  the  repeal  of  the  French 
decrees,  in  *heiroporation  against  the  United  States  in  order  ttf 
authorise  a  demand  for  the  performnnee  of  the  British  promise, 
must  be  total,  applying  equally  to  their  internal,  and  their  ex* 
ternal  eiTccta ;  as  if  the  United  States  bad  either  the  right  er  the 
power  to  impose  upon  France  the  law  of  her  domestic  institn- 
tions.l  And  it  was.  finally,  insisted,  in  a  despatch  from  hvd  Cas* 
tiareagh  to  the  Biitish  m  niftter,  residing  at  Wnshington,  in  the 
year  1812,  which  was  officially  communicated  to  the  American 
governmriit,  "  that  the  decreea  of  Berlin  and  Milim  must  not  be 
'repelled  singly  and  specially,  in  relation  to  the  United  States  ; 
hut  must  be  repealed.  uUo,  as  to  all  other  nontra)  nations ;  and 
that  in  no  |i-sh  extent  of  a  repeal  of  tha  French  decrees,  had  the 
British  govemmrnt  ever  pledged  itself  to  repeal  the  orders  Id 

t  See  the  eorrespondcRce  between  Mr.  Tiakn«|  and  tb«  Btifliib  govaa* 
■keot. 
•  See  the  Utt«ra  «f  Sir.  Enkine. 


0 


tS8 

council  ;"il  M  if  it  were  ineuihbeDt  on  the  United  'States,   net 
^only  to  assert  her  own  rights,  but  to  become  the  coadjutor  of  the 
B  itish  government,  in  a  gratuitous  assertion  of  the  rights  of  all 
-  other  nations. 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States  could  pause  no  longer.-* 
Under  a  deep  and  afflicting  sense  of  the  national  wrongs,   ani 
'the  national    resentments — while   they    "  postponed  4e6nitivo 
measures  with  respect  to  Prance,  in  the  expectation  that  the 
.result  of  unclosed  discussions  between  the  American  minister 
at  Paris  and  the  French  government,   would  «peedily  enable 
-them  to  decide,  with  greater  advantage,  on  the  course  due  to 
the  rights,  the  interests,  and  the  hon  .'  of  our  country  ;"*  they 
pronounced  a  deliberate  and  solemn  declaration  of  war,  between 
'Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  on  the  18th  of  June,  ISIS. 
But,  it  is  in  the  face  of  all  the  facts  which  have  been  dis- 
played in  the  present  narrative,  that  the  Prince  Regent,  by  his 
^declaration  of  January,  1813,  describes  the  United  States  as  the 
aggressor  in  the  war.     If  the  act  of  declaring  war  constitutes, 
in  all  cases,  the  act  of  original  aggression,  the  United  States 
must  submit  to  the  severity  of  the  reproach;  but  if  the  act  of 
declaring  war  may  be  more  truly  considered  as  the  result  of 
long  suffering,  and  necessary  self  defence,  the  American  govern- 
ment will  stand  acquitted,  in  the  sight  of  Heaven,  and  of  the 
world.      Have  the  United  States,  then,  enslaved  the  subject*, 
confiscated  the  property,  prostrated  the  commerce,  insulted  the 
flag,  or  Tiolatcd  the  territorial  sovreignty  of  Great  Britain- 
No:  but,  in  all  these  respects,  the  United  States  had  suffered, 
for  a  long   period  of  years  previously   to  the  declaration  of 
war,  the  contumely  and  outrage  of  the  British  government,-*- 
It  has  been  said,  too,  as    an  aggravation  of    the  imputed  ag- 
gression, that  the  U.  States  chose  a  period  for  their  dec laratiom 
of  war,-  when  Great  Britain  was  struggling  for  her  own  ex- 
istence, against  a  power  which  threatened  to  overthrow  the  in* 
dependence  of  all  Europe;    but  it  might  be   more  truly  said, 
that  the  United  States,  not  acting  upon  choice,  but  upon  com* 
.pulsion,  delayed  the  declaration  of  war,  imtil  the  persecutions 
of  Great  Britain  had  rendered  farther  delay  destructiveand 
disgraceful.      Great  Britain    had  converted  the  commercial 
scenes  of  American  opulence  and  prosperity,  into  8C«neB  of  com- 
parative  poverty  and  distress  ;    she  hnd  brought  the  existence 
of  the  United  States,  as  an  independent  nation,  intoquestion ; 
and  surely,  it  must  have  been  indifferent  to  the  United  States, 
whether  they  ceased  to  exist  as  an  independent  nation,  by  her 
conduct,  while  she  professed  friendship,  or  by  her  conduct  when 
«he  avowed  enmity  and  revenge.      Nor  is  it  true,  that  the  es- 
islence  of  Great  Britain  was  in   danger,  at  the  epoch  of  the 
declaration  of  war.    The  American  government  uniformly  en- 
tertained an  opposite  opinion  ;   and,  at  all  times,  saw  more  to 

II  Scr'  the  correspondence  betweea  the  secretary  of  st*te  and  Mr.  Foster, 
tl\e  British  minister  in  June,  1812. 

•  S.:e  tlie  presidenl's  mcsh-ge  of  the  1st  of  Jun»,  1811 ;  and  the  report  olF 
the  comraltttic  gf  foi'eign  rclatiyns,  ttD  whom  the  message  was  refcnee* ' 


he  United  'States,  n«t 
}me  the  coadjutor  nf  the 
rtioD  of  the  rights  of  all 

mid  pause  no  k>nger.'» 
)  national  wrongs,   ani 

"postpaned  4e6nitiva 
fie  expectation  that  the 
the  American  minister 

would  «peedily  enable 
!,  on  the  course  due  to 
of  our  country  ;"•  they 
laration  of  war,  between 
I  the  18th  of  June,  \i\2. 
i  which  have  been  dis- 
e  Prince  Regent,  by  his 
khe  United  States  a«  the 
:laring  war  constitutes, 
lion,  the  United  States 
roach ;  but  if  the  act  of 
sidered  as  the  result  of 
e,  the  American  govern- 
I  of  Heaven,  and  of  the 
I,  enslaved  the  subjects, 

commerce,  insulted  the 
nty  of  Great  Britain-* 
ted  States  had  sutYered, 
r   t«  the  declaration  of 
e  British  government.-*- 
ion  of    the  imputed  ag- 
riod  for  their  declaratiom 
iggling  for  her  own  ex- 
led  to  overthrow  the  in* 
;ht  be  more  truly  said, 
n  choice,  but  upon  com- 
',  (mtil  the  persecutions 
iv  delay  destructiveand 
tverte4  the  commercial 
erity,  into  scenes  of  com* 
id  brought  the  existence 
nt  nation,  intoquestion ; 
ent  to  the  United  States, 
ependent  nation,  by  her 
I,  or  by  her  conduct  when 
>r  is  it  true,  that  the  ex* 
ger,  at  the  epoch  of  the 
jvernment  uniformly  en- 
t  all  times,  saw  morete 

!tary  of  state  and  Mr.  Foster, 

Jun»,  181 1 ;  and  the  report  of 
ic  mesBage  yrt»  refened* ' 


39 

V  A  *«r  tKa  Unitod  States,  from  her  maritime  powce; 
Apprehend  for  the  iJmiea  ^^"^  »  ^.-niv.  The  event  has 
•i  from  the  tcrritorxal  power  o^o'-en^^  Utnt- 

•justified  the  opinion  and  the  «PP'^^«";'^"^^^^  ^^d  even  as  ban- 
id  States  asked,  as  essential  !?  .;^,'"' 7^^';^™ 'European  war,  G. 
eficial  to  the  •^l"«^f,,»X.f  Ke  K  antS  Sut  impairing 
BriUin,  it  is  manifest,  «'«!l*J*^''„8jTe  splendor  of  her  own 
the  resources  of  her  own  «'V«"6th,  or  the  spien 

sovereignty ;  for  her  orders  in  «^'i«""' ''^.'^^^^^  ^o  follow,  in 
,ot,  it  U  true,  as  the  P*[  <>';7"';«  f  I^^cIsKally  rested  the 
this  respect,  the  examp  eof  F'*"';®;  ^^Tt^e  French  decrees, 

advantage  of  her  own  people.  ae-cribed  the  war  as  * 

The  British  eovernment   has,  also,  oescrioeu  vnc 

St  the  iart  ?h?proof^^^^^  irresistible,  that  the  enemy 
TulTd tv:;;'iiffe  Jit  course  ^  a^d  that  e-ry  pre^ut.oj. 
Luld  be  necessary,    «P^^^^^^^^^  ,he 

ance  between  the  ^T'*;^  S"°|' *J*,  The  military  occupation 
"ri  Wr  SataftLeflT^^  indispensable  to  th. 

t^Se.  whth  L^been  s^JU  upon  the  Atlantic,  wh^ 
for  injuries  wmon  n  moditieation  of  civihred  warfare, 

Uring  Upper  Canada,  havef  however,  been  '^'»<^"<:«'^„Jy  ^j^J,^"' 
S  fcgociators  at  Ghent,  as  the  proof,  of  a  spirit  of  amb  Uon 
and  a-arandisement,  on  the  part  of  their  government  In  truth, 
Se  prJdamat,onsw;re  not  only  unautV.ovi.cd  ""^  f-.PP-ved^ 
but  were  infractions  of  the  positive  instr.icUons  JJ>?'^\*J^^  ^^^^"^ 
given,  for  the  conduct  of  the  war  m  Canada.  J^^"  ^^^f^J*, 
ral  commanding  t)ie  north  wcfelern  avmy  of  ^l'^  "n  ted  htates 
^ceTvTd  onthf  2*thof  June,  1«12.  hi.  first  authority  to  com. 

^•&'S«documetit»hid  before  congress,  oatlieUJiofJuiie,! 


49 

m«ne«  offensivs  operttiimt,  he  wa»  eapeciallj  told,  that  **  He. 
mudt  aatcounider  himBelf  authorised  to  pledge  the  government 
Co  the  iobabttants  of  Canada,  further  than  assurances  of  pro- 
tection ID  their  peraons,  property  and  rights."  And  on  the  ensu- 
ing I  St  of  August,  it  was  emphatically  declared  to  htm,  "  that 
it  bad  baeome  necessary,  that  be  should  not  lose  sight  of  the  in- 
■tructions  of  the  Sith  of  June,  as  any  pledge  beyond  that  was 
inco.npatible  w/tb  the  views  of  the  government." •  Such  wae 
the  nature  of  the  charge  of  American  ambition  and  aggr&n* 
diX'Jiaent,  and  suoh  the  evidence  to  aopport  it. 

The  prince  regent,  has  however,  endeavored  to  add  to  tb««M 
unfounded  accusations,  a  stigma,  at  which  the  pride  of  the  A> 
mei'ican  government  revolts  Listening  to  the  fabricatione  of 
British  eaiittsaries  ;  gathering  scandals  from  the  abuses  of  a  free 
press  ;  and  misled,  perhaps,  by  the  taperities  of  a  p&rty  spirit, 
common  to  all  free  government  ;  he  aifects  to  trace  the  origin 
of  the  war  to  "  a  marked  partiality,  in  palliating  and  assisting 
the  aggressive  tyranny  of  Prance ;  and  *'  to  the  prevalence  of 
•uch  councils,  as  associated  tlie  United  States,  in  policy  with 
the  government  of  that  natio[i."f  The  conduct  of  the  Americaa 
government  is  now  open  to  every  scrutiny  j  and  its  vindication 
IS  iaseparabla  from  a  knowledge  of  the  facta.  All  the  world 
must  be  sensible,  indeed,  that  neither  in  the  general  policy  of 
tite  late  ruler  of  Prance,  nor  in  his  particular  treatment  of  the 
U-ii^^ed  8tatc<i,  could  there  exist  any  political,  or  rational  foun- 
dation, f>j>r  the  sympathies  and  associations,  overt  or  clandes- 
tine, which  have  been  rudely  and  unfairly  suggested.  It  is  e> 
qiia.lly  obvious,  that  nothing  short  of  the  aggressive  tyranny,  ex- 
ercised by  Great  Britain  towards  the  United  States,  cculd  have 
V>ant(>.racted  and  controlled,  those  tendencies  to  peace  and  ami- 
ty, which  derived  tieir  impulse,  from  natural  and  social  causes  ; 
eombining  the  aifcct  ions  and  interests  of  the  two  nations.  The 
American  government,  fuithful  to  that  principle  of  public  law, 
which  acknowledges  the  authority  of  all  governments  establish- 
ed de  facto  ;  and  conformding  its  practice,  in  this  respect,  to  the 
example  of  Burope ;  has  never  contested  the  validity  of  the  go- 
vernments successively  established  m  Prance  ;  nor  refrained 
from  that  intercourse  vvith  either  ef  them,  which  the  just  in- 
terests of  the  United  Slates  required.  But  the  British  cabinet 
is  challenged  to  produce,  from  the  recesses  of  its  secret,  or  of  its 
public  archives,  a  single  instance  of  unworthy  concessions,  or  of 
political  al  iance  and  combination,  throughout  the  intercourse 
of  the  United  States,  with  the  revolutionary  rulers  of  Prance. 
Was  it  ti.e  inftnpnce  of  French  councils,  that  indnced  the  Ame- 
can  government  to  resi.st  the  pretensions  of  Prance,  in  1793.  and 
to  encounter  her  hostilities  ia  1798?  that  led  to  the  ratification 
of  the  British  treaty  in  1795;  to  the  British  negociation  in 
1805,  and  to  the  convention  with  the  British  minister  in  1809  ? 


•  See  the  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  the  war  department,  t«  Wf-  9^'» 
Boll,  dated  the  24th  of  Jun»  and  the  1st  of  August,  1812. 
t  See  the  Bntiib  declaration  to  tbc  l«th  ^iumij,  tll3. 


41 


pecially  toW,  that  **  he. 
0  pledge  the  government 
than  assHrances  of  pro- 
ights."  And  on  the  ensu- 
declared  to  him,  "  that 
d  not  lose  Bight  of  the  in- 
pledge  beyond  that  wat 
rernment."*  Such  wat 
,n  ambitioD  and  aggran- 
ipport  it. 

deavored  to  add  to  th«M« 
hich  the  pride  of  the  A« 
ig  to  the  fabrication*  of 
n-om  the  abusea  of  a  free 
teritiea  of  a  p&rty  spirit, 
[Fccts  to  trace  the  origin 

palliating  and  assisting 
d  "  to  the  prevalence  of 
ed  States,  in  policy  with 
conduct  of  the  American 
:tiny ;  and  its  vindication 
le  facta.  All  the  world 
in  the  general  policy  of 
■ticalar  treatment  of  the 
>olitical,  or  rational  foun- 
iations,  overt  or  clandes* 
irly  suggested.  It  is  e> 
le  aggressive  tyranny,  ex- 
Jnited  States,  cculd  have 
lencies  to  peace  and  ami- 
aiural  and  social  causes  ; 
of  the  two  nations.  The 
i  principle  of  public  law, 
It  governments  establish- 
tice,  in  this  respect,  to  the 
ed  the  validity  of  the  go- 
n  France  ;  nor  refrained 
lem,  which  the  just    in- 

But  the  British  cabinet 
esses  of  its  secret,  or  of  its 
iworthy  concessions,  or  of 
oughout  the  intercourse 
ion  ary  rulers  of  France. 
Is,  that  indnced  the  Ame- 
iis  of  France,  in  1 793.  and 
hat  led  to  the  ratification 

Britifth  negociation  in 
British  minister  in  1809  f 

WOT  department,  to  Mf- 1*** 
ugust,  1812. 


that  dictated  the  impartial  overtures,  which  w  m  made  to  O 
Britain,  as  well  as  to  l-'raiice,  during  the  wliole  pei  iod  ol  the 
restrictive 'System  i'  that  {produced  tlie  determiuatiun  tu  avoid 
making  any  Ireuty,  even  a  treaty  of  coaimercc,  with  i'raiica, 
until  the  outrage  of  the  ilam  »ouillet  decree  was  repaired  fj  that 
sanctioned  the  rcijeatcd  and  urgent  eti'uits  of  the  American  go- 
vernment, to  put  an  end  to  the  war,  almost  us  scon  as  it  wa* 
declared  i*  or  that,  linalJ.v,  prompted  the  explicit  coiumunica- 
tion,  whi>:h,  in  pursuance  of  intttructions,  was  made  by  the  A- 
merican  minist.  r,  at  St.  Petersbuigh,  to  the  court  of  Russ  a, 
staling.  "  that  the  principal  subjects  of  discussion,  which  ha* 
long  been  subsisting  between  the  United  States  and  i'Vaiice, 
remained  unsettled;  that  there  was  no  immediate  prospect,  tiiat 
there  would  be  a  satisfactory  settlement  of  them  ;  but  that, 
wliAlever  the  event,  in  tliat  respect,  might  be,  it  was  not  the  in- 
tention of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  to  enter  into 
any  more  intimate  connexions  with  France  ;  that  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  fitates  did  not  anticipate  any  event  whatev- 
er, tliiitconld  produce  tliat  effect;  and  that  the  American  inin- 
istcpwas  the  more  happy  to  find  himself  aathorized  by  his  go- 
vernment to  avow  this  intention,  as  different  representations  of 
their  views  had  been  widely  circulated,  as  well  in  Europe,  as  in 
America."||  But,  while  every  act  of  the  American  go\ernnient 
thuc  falsifies  the  charge  of  a  subserviency  to  the  policy  of 
France,  it  maybe  justly  remarked,  that  of  ail  the  governments, 
maintaining  a  necessary  relation  and  intercourse  with  that  na- 
tion, from  the  commcncemetit.  to  the  recent  termination,  of  the 
revolutionary  establishments,  it  has  hap]>ened,  that  the  goverfi- 
ment  of  the  United  Slates,  lias  least  exhibited  m^fks  of  conde- 
scension and  (v-TicPssion  to  the  successive  rulers.  It^s  for  Great 
Britain,  more  pir.icularly,  as  an  accuser,  to  examine  and  explain 
the  consistf.ncv  of  the  reproaches,  which  she  has  uttered  against 
the  United  Slates,  with  the  course  of  her  own  conrluct ;  with 
her  repeated  iif^ociations.  during  the  republican,  as  well  as  dur- 
ing the  iin[>  ri  .1  sway  of  France  ;  with  her  solicitude  to  make 
an  1  to  propose  tieaties  ;  with  her  interchange  of  eomnieicial 
bi'nefits.so  irreconeihihie  to  a  state  of  war;  with  the  almost  tri- 
unip'iant  •^n'ry  ofn  Fr^-'neh ambassador  into  her  capital,  amidst 
the  if:i'i:umiioii!i  of  the  populace;  and  with  the  prosecution,  in- 
stiUitRii.  by  the  ordrrs  of  the  king  of  Great  Biitain  himself,  in 
the  highest  court  of  criminal  jurisdiction  in  his  kingdom,  to 
piinirli  till'  printer  of  a  aazetfe,  for  pubtishinga  libel  on  the 
cmdiii^t  and  chnractcr  of  Hie  late  ruler  of  France!  Whatever 
nii.v  be  tic  source  ofthese  symptoms,  liowever  they  may  indi- 
C3  «a  subs  rvient  policy,  HUf'h  oymptoms  have  never  occurred 
in  the  United  States,  throughout  th^  imperial  government  of 
France  ^  .    .:'  . 

•  Si/e  li.p  instrnrtions  from  ihe  ■'•rn  taryof  state  to  the  American  minister 
aiRu'l.sdu-ctl  l!,e2ftli  M.-i      18; 

Sec  \li    .Muniui's  Ittie,  ic  Mr.  Adams, dated  the  1st  of  Ju'v  1812  ;  mA 
Mr,  AJan  b\  letiter  to  Mr.  -Mui  roe  diited  »h«  llth  Iktiinbtr,  i8i2. 
C'i 


it 


The  conduct  of  t!ic  United  States,  from  the  moment  of  de- 
cliii-ing  the  war,  will  serve,  a»  well  ab  their  previous  eoiiduin,  to 
rescue  them  from   the  unjust   reproafhes    of    Great   Britain. 
When  war  was  declared,  the  orderA  in  council  had  been  main- 
tained, with  inexorable  houtiliiy,  until  a    thousand    American 
vessels  with  their  cargoes  had  been  seized  and  confiscated,  un- 
der their  operation  ;  the  British  minitttcr  at  Washing'  on    had, 
with  peculiar  solemnity,  announced  thHt  the  orders   would  not 
be  repealed,  but  upon  conditions,  which  the  American   govern- 
ment had  not  the  right, nor  the  power,  to  fulfil  ;  and  the    Eu- 
ropean war,  which  had  raged,  with  little  iiiiermission  for  twen- 
ty years,  threatened  an   indefinite    continuance.     Under  these 
circumstances,  a  repeal  of  the  orders,  and  a  cessation  of  the  in- 
juries, wliich  they  produced,  were  events  beyond  all  rational  an- 
ticipation,    it  appears,  hrtjwevtr,  that  the  orders  under  the  in- 
fluence of  a  parliamentary  inquiry  into  their  eflFects  upon    thcs 
trade  and  manufactures  of  Great  Britain,  were  provisionally  re- 
pealed on  the  23d  of  June,  ISlsJ,  a  few   days  subsequent  to  thu 
American  declaration  of  war.     If  this  repeal    had    been   mad.j 
known  to  the  United  Stales,  before  their   resort  to  arms,  tho 
repeal  would  have  anreated  it ;  and  that  cause  of  war  being  re- 
moved, the  other  essential  causi.  the  practice  of  impressment, 
would  have  been  the  subject  of  renewed  negociation,  under  the 
auspicious  influence  of  a  partial,  yet  important  act  of  reconcilia- 
tion. But  the  declaration  of  war,  having  announced  the  practice 
of  impressment,  as  a  principal  cause,  peace  could  only  be  the  re- 
sult of  an  express  abandonment  of  the  practice  of  a  suspension 
of  ithe  practice,  for  the  purposes  of  negociation  ;  or  of  a  cessa- 
tion of  actual  sufferance,  in  consequence  of  a  pacification  in  Eu« 
iope.  which  would  deprive  Great  Britain  of  every  motive  for 
continuing  (be  practice. 

Henee  when  early  intimations,  were  given,  from  Halifax  and 
from  Canada,  of  a  disposition,  on  the  part  of  the  local  authori- 
ties to  enter  into  an  armistice,  the  power  of  those  authoritiea 
was  so  doubtful,  the  objects  of  the  armistice  were  so  limited,  and 
the  immediate  advantages  of  the  measure  were  so  entirely  on 
fjie  side  of  the  enemy,  that  the  American  government  could 
not,  consistently  with  its  duty,  embrace  the  proposition.*  But 
aome  hope  of  an  amicable  adjustment  waj  inspired,  when  a  com- 
munication was  received  from  admiral  Warren,  in  September, 
1812,  stating  that  he  was  commanded  by  his  government,  to 
propose  on  t^  e  ons  hand  *'  that  the  government  of  the  United 
Stales  should  instakxtly  recal  their  letters  of  marque  and  repri- 
HftL  against  British  ships,  together  with  all  orders  and  instruc- 
tions for  any  acts 'jf  hostility,  whatever  against  the  territories 

♦  So  tlictetUrsofthe  ilepartmeiit  of  state,  to  Mr.  Riisstll,  tlatfil  tlie  9th 
and  lUlh  of  Aii^'iist,  )81t,  and  Mr.   Grali.ini's  memoraTiflum  of  a  conveisa- 
-ion  with  Mr.  Maker,  the  ni-ilish  si  cret.ii  y  of  U'Rution,  i  nclosed  in  tlic  li.«.t 
:,:Uer.    i'le  ^bo  Mr.  Munjoe'-s  lellcr  tf»  Mr.  Bvisi,eH,  tViV-d  '.\k  '^ht  of  .V.-. 
)iV!t,  ISi;'. 


•1 
tt 

»r 

b 

g 

h 
tl 
ii 
w 

a 

tl 
tl 
1 

8i 
ti 
b 

tl 
» 

ti 

0 

s 

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V 
H 

c 
i 
a 
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0 


0 


43 


n  the  moment  of  de- 
ir  previous  coiidui't,  t» 
s  of  Great  Oritain. 
>uncil  had  been  inniu- 

thousand  American 
id  and  confiscated,  un- 
'  at  VVa!<hing'on  had, 
the  orders  would  not 
ho  American  govern- 
a  fuliil  ;  and  the  Eu- 
iiiiermission  for  twen- 
uuancc.  Under  these 
1  a  cessation  of  tlie  in- 
beyond  all  rational  an- 

ordere  under  the  in- 
heir  eflFects  upon  tho 
,  were  provisionally  re- 
lays subsequent  to  thi) 
peal  had  been  mad>3 
r  resort  to  arms,  tho 
cause  ofwar  being  re- 
ictice  of  impressment, 
negociation,  under  the 
ortant  actof  reconcilia- 
announccd  the  practice 
icecQuld  only  be  the  rc- 
ractiee  cf  a  suspension 
ociation  ;  or  of  a  ccssa- 
'.  of  a  pacification  in  Eu« 
,n  of  every  motive  fo? 

iven,  from  Halifax  and 
irt  of  the  local  authori- 
ver  of  those  authovitiea 
tice  weresoiimited,  and 
ire  were  so  entirely  on 
ican  government  could 
tlie  proposition.*  But 
a  inspired,  when  a  com- 
Warren,  in  September, 
I  by  his  government,  to 
vcrnment  of  the  United 
IB  of  marque  and  repri- 
I  all  orders  and  instruct 
p  against  the  territories 

to  Mr.  Riisstll,  tlatf  il  ihe  9th 
memoranflum  ot  a  convei'sa« 
U'Kution,  unclosed  in  tlie  \i,< 
ist,eH,  tViVil'.he'';ist  of  .v.; 


■iti.l 


•Hiis  mainsty,  or  the  persons  or  property  of  his  Bubjects  f  and 
to  promise  on  the  otlier  hand,  if  the  American  governmnt  ac- 
ciuiesccdinthe  preceeding  proposition,  that  mstructions  should 
be  issued  to  the  British  squadrons  to  discontinue  hosUhties  a- 
eainst  the  United  States  and  their  citizens.  This  ovrrlurc, 
however,  was  subject  to  a  further  qualification,  "  that  should 
the  American  government  accede  to  tlie  proposal  for  terminal, 
injr  hostilities,  llie  British  Admiral  was  authorised  to  arrange 
witii  the  American  government,  as  to  the  revocation  of  the  laws 
which  interdict  the  commerce  and  ships  of  war  of  Great  Brit- 
ain from  the  harbours  and  waters  of  the  Unitad  Staffs;  but 
that  in  default  of  such  revocation  within  the  reasonable  perioa 
to  be  agreed  upon,  the  orders  in  council  would  be  revived.'  f— 
The  American  government,  at  once,  at  once  expressed  a  dispo- 
sition to  embrace  the  general  proposition  for  a  cessation  of  hoe- 
tilities.with  a  view  to  negociution  ;  declared  that  no  peace  could 
be  durable,  unless  the  essential  object  of  impressment  was  ad- 
justed ;  and  offered,  as  the  basis  of  the  adjustment,  to  prohibit 
the  employment  of  British  subjects  in  the  naval  or  commercial 
acrviic  of  the  United  States  ;  but  adhering  to  its  determina- 
tion of  obtaining  a  relief  from  actual  sufFrance,  the  suspension 
of  tho  p.  actice  of  impressment  pending  tho  proposed  armibtice^ 
was  deemed  a  necessary  consequence;  for,  "it  could  not  be  pre- 
sumed, while  the  parties  were  engaged  in  a  negociation  to  ad- 
just amicably  this  important  difTcrence.  that  the  United  States 
would  admit  the  right,  or  acquiesce  in  the  practice,  of  the  oppo- 
aite  party ;  or  that  Great  Britain  would  be  unwilling  restrain  her 
cruizer-ifrom  a  practice  which  would  have  the  stronj^c'^t  effect  tv> 
defeat  the  negociation.'"^  So  ju^t,  so  reasonable,  so  indifipensible, 
aprelimmarv,  without  which  the  citizens  of  the  United  Statea, 
navigating  the  high  seas,  would  not  be  placed,  by  the  armistice, 
on  an  equal  footing  with  the  siibjf  cts  of  Great  Britain,  admiral 
Warnn  was  not  authorized  to  accept;  and  the  eiFortatunam:ca>- 
ble  adjustment,  through  that  channel,  was  necessarily  abortive. 
But  long  befora  the  overture  of  the  British  admiraJ  was  made 
(a  fftw  days,  indeed,  after  the  declaration  of  war,)  tha  reluc- 
tance with  which  the  United  States  had  resorted  to  aims,  wag 
nL^nifested  by  the  stepi  taktsn  to  arrest  the  progress  of  hostili- 
tiei,  and  to  hasten  a  restoration  of  peace  On  the  ii6th  of  June 
1813,  the  American  Charlie  d'affairs  at  London,  was  instructed 
to  m-ike  the  proposal  of  an  armistice  to  the  British  govern* 
Tnrnt,  which  might  lead  to  an  adjiistmeiit  of  all  diiTereiiees  on 
th''  single  condition,  in  the  evrntofthe  orders  in  council'  being 
rep  aled,  that  instructions  slumld  be  issned,  susjiending  tho 
practice  of  impresement  during  the  arnjislice.  Ti)is  proposal 
w  IS  soon  folio'ved  by  .mot'ier,  admitting,  instead  of  positive  in- 
i»ti'uctions,  an  informal  understanding  between  the  two  govcrnr 

■j-  S.-C  the  letter  ofalmiral  Warroii,  to  the  scrjetary  of  state,  dated  at  Hal. 
if  xtlu  ■.>'lhor,Scp'-.  l»\2, 

^  Sci'  If  leUer  of  Mr.  .MtuiTOP,  to  admiral  Warren,  dated  the27iji  i>f 
atober,ia3. 


44 


mcnts  on  th«  8uhjeet.ll    Bkit  both  of  these  proposalt  were  un* 

hapily  rejected.}  And  when  a  third,  which  8eenj«d  to  k-avo 
no  plea  for  hesitation,  as  it  required  no  other  pfiieminary,. 
than  that  the  American  minister  at  London,  should  find  in  the 
British  government,  a  sincere  disposition  to  accommodate  the 
difference,  relative  to  impressment,  on  fair  conditions,  '.vas  eva- 
ded, it  was  obvious,  that  neitlier  a  desire  of  peace,  nor  a  spirit  of 
conciliation,  influenced  the  councils  of  Cireat  Britain. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Americian  government  had  no 
choice  but  to  invigorate  the  war ;  and  ^let  it.  iius  never  lust  siglit 
of  the  object  of  all  just  wars,  a  just  peace.  Tlie  Emperor  of  Rus- 
sia having  offered  his  mediation  to  accomplish  that  object,  it 
was  instantly  and  cordially  accepted  by  the  American  govern- 
ment ;•[  but  it  was  peremptor,ly  rejected  by  the  British   Gov- 
ernment.    The   Emperor,  in  his  benevolence,  repeated   his  in- 
vitation ;  the   British  government   again  rejected  it.     At  last, 
however,  Great  Britain,  sensible  of  the  reproach,  to  which  suci* 
conduct  would  expose   her  throughout    Europe,    offered  to  the 
American  government,  a  direct  negociation  for  peace,  and  thu 
offer  was  promptly  embraced  ;  with  perfect  confidence  that  tho 
British  government  would  be  equally  prompt  in  giving  effect  ♦...> 
its  own  propo.sal.     But  such  was  not  Ine  design  or  course  of  the 
British  government.     The  American  envoys  were  immediately 
appointed,  and  arrived  at  Gottenburg,  the  destined  scene  of  ne- 
gociation, on  the  llth  of  April,  lbl4,  as  soon  as  the  season  ad- 
Hiitted.     The  British  government,  though  regularly  informed, 
that  no  time  would   be  lost  on  the  part  of  the    United  State.^, 
suspended  the  appointment  of  its  envoys,  until  the  actual  arri- 
val of  the  American  envoys  should  be  formally  communicated. 
This  pretension,  however  novel  and   inauspicious,  was  not  per- 
mitted to  obstruct  the  path  to  peace.     The  British  government 
next  proposed  to  transfer  the  negociation  from  Gotlenburgh  to 
Ghent.    .This  change,   also,  notwithstanding  the  necessary  de- 
Ifiy,  was  allowed.     The  American    envoys-   arriving  at  Ghent, 
on  the  2lth  of  June,  remained  in  a  mortifying  state  of  suspense 
and  expectation  for  the  arrival  of  the  British  envoys,  until  the 
6th  of  August.     And   from  the  period  of  opening  the  negocia- 
tions.  to  the  date  of  the  last  dispatch  of  the  31st  of  October,  it 
has  been  seen  that  the  whole  of  the  diplomatic  skill  of  the  Brit- 
ish government,  has  consisted  in  consuming  time,  without  ap- 
proaching any  conclusion.    The  pacification  of  Paris  had  sud- 
denly and  unexpectedly  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  British  go- 
vernment B  great  naval  and  military  force ;  the  pride  and  pas- 
sions  of  tlie  nation  were  artfully  excited  against  the  Unitc4t 
States ;   and  a  war  of  desperate  and  barbarous  character  w  la 

1  See  ilie  letters  from  the  secretary  of  state  to  Mr.  Rus«el,  dated  the  26th 
0fJ'inc.ivd2rilivfJiilv,18»2.  .,        ..     ,^      ,  , 

§sce  the  coirtsi.oinlence  hot  ween  Mr.  Hussell,  .and  lord  C.isilereafil', 
dated  Auivust  m-A  Kept,  mbef,  l812,aiKl  Mr.  Uusseil's letters  to  tlie  secrtU- 
fvnf  slate,  (Idled  Sept.  Ibt 2.  ,   ..    «      v»   <»•   i 

•1  See  the  correspvn  IcMct  letwecn  Mr.  Momoe  and  Mr.  DascttctJ,  in 
JMwcb,  181J- 


\  proposals  were  un* 
Inch  soeii)«d  to  k-avo 
)  other  pHieminary,. 
)n,  should  find  in  the 
to  accommodate  the 
r  ccnditioii8,  '.vas  eva- 
peace,  nor  a  spirit  of 
at  Britain. 

n  government  had  no 
it  liuB  never  lust  sight 
The  Euiporor  of  Rus- 
iipli»h  that  object,  it 
he  American  govern- 
by  the  British   Gov- 
ince,  repeated   his  in- 
rejeoted  it.     At  last, 
proach,  to  which  sucit 
uropc,   offered  to  the 
on  for  peace,  and  th« 
ct  confidence  that  tho 
npt  in  giving  eliectt-^ 
lesign  or  course  of  the 
oys  were  immediately 
;  destined  scene  of  ne- 
sooTi  as  the  season  ad< 
li  regularly  informid^ 
if  the    United  State?, 
until  the  actual  arri* 
i-mally  communicated. 
uspicious,  was  not  per- 
le  British  government 
from  Gotlenburgh  to 
ding  the  necessary  de- 
y-i   arriving  at  Ghent, 
tying  state  of  suspense 
itish  envoys,  until  tlie 
r  opening  the  negocia- 
;he  31st  of  October,   it 
matic  skill  of  the  Brit- 
ling  time,  without  ap- 
tion  of  Paris  had  sud- 
iposal  of  the  British  go- 
ce  ;  the  pride  and  pag- 
ed aga'Pit  the  Unitc4l 
rbarous  character  wisi 

Mr.  Russel,  dated  the  26th 

)ell,  and  lord  CasikTeafib, 
iseil's  letters  to  tlie  secrttu- 

roe  and  Mr.  DaschkcH',  in 


4& 

ptianneif,  at  the  very  moment  that  the  American  governnifnt, 
finding  its  maritime  citizens  relieved,  by  the  course  <ji  oventH. 
from  actual  suffrauce,  under  the  practice  of  iaipressinent,  had 
authorized  its  envoys  to  waive  those  stipulations  upon  the  sul> 
jcct,  which  might  otherwise  have  been  indispensible  precau-^ 
tions. 

Hitherto  the  American  government  has  shewn  the  juslicc 
of  its  cause  ;  its  resjjccl  for  the  rights  of  other  nations  ;  and 
its  inherent  love  of  peace.  But  the  scenci*  of  war  will  also 
exhibita  striking  contrast,  between  the  conduct  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  conduct  of  Great  Britain.  The  same  jneiduoiis 
policy  wiiich  taught  the  prince  regent  to  describe  the  A  rani- 
can  governmont  as  the  aggressor  m  the  war,  has  inuucetl  the 
British  govei  lunent  (clouding  the  daylight,  truth,  ol  the  trans- 
action) to  call  the  attrocities  of  the  British  fleets  and  armies,  » 
retaliation  upon  the  example  of  the  American  troopo  in  €an4« 
da.  The  United  States  tender  a  solemn  nppcal  to  the  civilized 
world,  against  the  fabrication  of  such  u  chaige  ;  and  they 
vouch,  in  support  of  tlieir  appeal,  the  known  morals,  hnbitsai.J 
pursuits  of  their  people;  the  character  of  their  civil  anti  puhti- 
eal  institutions  ;  and  the  whole  career  of  their  navy  and  th.ir 
army,  as  humane,  as  it  is  brave.  Upon  what  pretest  did  ,l.e 
British  admiral,  on  the  I8th  of  August,  lbl4,  announee  his  de- 
termination,  "to  destroy  and  lay  waste  such  towns  and  disiiicts 
upon  the  coast  as  might  be  found  assailable ?'*  It  was  the 
pretext  of  a  request  from  the  governor  general  of  the  Canodiii?, 
for  aid  to  carry  into  effect  measures  of  retaliation;  viiilt  in 
fact,  the  barbarous  nature  of  the  war  had  been  deliberattiv  stt- 
led  and  prescribed  by  the  British  cabinet.  What  could  'hava 
been  the  foundation  of  such  a  request?  The  outrages  and  i.  reg- 
ularities which  too  often  occur  during  a  stale  of  national  l.obtH- 
ities,  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  civilized  warfare,  are  always  to 
be  lamented,  diKavowcdand  repaired,  ].y  a  just  and  honourable 
^ov«rnmf?nt;  but  if  disavowal  be  made,  and  if  reparation  L  of- 
tered,  there  is  no  foundation  for  retaliatory  violence.  '•  What- 
ever unauthorised  irregularity  may  have  been  committed  bv  a- 
ny  of  the  troops  of  the  United  States,  the  Ameiican  govt-.n- 
inent  has  been  ready,  upon  principles  of  sacred  and  ctenidl  ob- 
ligation, to  disavow,  and  as  far  as  it  might  be  pract  cable,  to  re- 
Sair.';t  In  every  known  inat^ince  (and'they  arefi  w)  the  oiler,- 
era  have  been  suhjecttd  to  the  regular  investigation  of  a  n.il- 
Uary  tribunal ;  and  an  officer,  commanding  a  party  of  sfragleri; 
who  were  guilty  of  unworthy  excesses,  was  in,medi?tely  di/. 
missed  v/ithout  the  form  of  a  tdal.  for  !iot  preventing  those  cx- 
i-esses^  The  destruction  oftf.e  village  of  Newark,  adjacent  Lo 
I'ort  Gf>i  rge.  on  the  10th  of  December,  IS  I  3,  was  Ions  subse- 
quent to  the  pillage  and  corillagritioncomi.iittod  on  the  shores 

♦  SreadiniralCociirme'skUfrto  Afr  M,;nr,r,  date.Uhe  13ih  of  August 
ibll ;  ami  .Mr.  Alrmrot'.s  answer  of  tiie  6th  September,  18(4. 

t  See  the  letter  from  tlie  serrc'.-»r\  '.  ('  vur  t  < '.;  ■^ad;.  r  B^f-c-al  vf'l  nrp 
dated  4lhofOc'..>bei-.  1913.  '  "  ^"  •«  *-«'«•# 


46 

of  the  Ch*«apc»ke,  t>iroughout  the  summpr  of  t^«'^"J*  >??';.. 
*nd  miKht  fairly  have  been  uUeged  as  a  rotahnt.on   for  those  . 
Sutrrze*  ;  but,  in  fact,  it  wxs  justified  by  the  American  com. 
mandfr!who  ordered  it,  on  the  V«nd,  that  it  became  neceH.a- 

Ty  tothemiHtary  operations  at  that  P'»f '*  V'"'»-"VVATh  o'f 
Sn%overnm«nt;  as  soon  a.  it  heard  of  the  act    on  iU  6th  of 
January.  1814,  instructed  the  general  coininandmg  tnc  no.ll 
eJn  army    '  to  .ii.  ivow  the  conduct  of  the  officer  vho  commit- 
::jit.  3  to  transmit  to  governor  Prcvo-t  a  eopy  «*  *^;^^;;. 
Unde;  colour  of  wVich  that  officer  ^ad  «cted^}'  f^^^Vr^^^^^^ 
al  was  accopdin}£ly  communicated  ;  and  on   he  ICHh  of  febiun. 
ry    18H   Gov    Prevost  answered,  "  that  it  had  been  with  great 
lat^ia cUon  h;  l,ad  received  the  assurance  1  hut  the  P«-Ft';J'«" 
of  the  burninc  the  town  of  Newark,  was  both  unauthoriHcd  by 
Jhc  Ani"S«overnme»t,  and  abhorrent  to  every  American 
Seling    that  if  any  outrage,  had  ensued  the  wanton  and  unju*  ,- 
fiab  J^de^truction^of  New^ark,  pru«ing  the  bounds  of  just  reta  .- 
.tlon   thev  were  to  be  attributed,    to  the  influence  of  irritnted 
Is";ns  L  t^.e%art  unfor'tunate  sufTerers  by  tha»  .v^;^* 

Eh  in  a"stat/of  active  warfare,  it  l^^^-J^^^^r'af  J^  ^'^e- 
gctherto  restrain;  and  that  >^  ^=^» '«  ^''V^^^^frthit  ^f  the 
Sh  lOMtion  of  his  majesty's  government,  as  it  ^as  to  that  ot  the 

gc^Cent  of -he  uiite'd  sfates.  <J''l;^"-f' ^  ' "  ^•^."P^f'^y.iP^^; 
of  nolicv  which  had  for  its  object  the  devastation  of  private 
prope nvV'  BMt  the  disavowel  of  the  American  government 
Sr  'i^not  the  only  expiation  of  the  oflfence  committed  by  Us  officer 
folTe  British  government  assumed  »b^,  P/^^^^  "^  ;«^7"! 
in  th.'  indulgence  of  iu  own  vengeance.  A  few  days  after  the 
bu  n  ng  of  N.wark,  the  British  and  Indian  troops  oro«sjd  t^e 
?llagara,  for  this  purpose  ;  they  surprr..^d  «^"J '^f^^JJ^^  .N'^^ 

*,11  mrasuro  ofr -tnlialloi.  had  uUn  plue ;"  «n(l     th«t  it  »!i» 

'^(iriinvI'U.re's  letter,  U>  the  s«.aary  of  «ur,  dated  D.c.  10  and  13. 
''JLtVe  letter  Won,  the  .cceUry  atwarto  m  jor  ^neral  Wilkinson. 
J>'.-a  tl.(  26',h  of  January  ISU.  .  .         ^     -^  fjeoi-p-e  Pievost,  dated 

%  Sro  the  letter  of  iti:,io-  g.nerAl  ^^''^'^J-'^V  "4,  gImcc  Vrcvost,  tm  tfce 
ttw;  2f«^t,  -.f  ,I;m.mvv,  1814,  and  the  answer  of  Sir  Oeafge  i  r,;r    ,  ,  v 

IQtlk  of  Febrviary,  1814^  •    •' 


ecm] 
the  ; 
copy 
as  tu 

pytc 

the  j 
pirt 

of  til 
Can: 
prim 
(id  aj 
k-.omi 
the  ( 
ofth 
iievfi 
ly  di 
ami! 
Amc 
that 
may 
ry  o 
the  < 
rang 
neill 
It 
warf 
Stat 
men' 
ing  I 
Msag 
mors 
a  sh( 
tions 
bIoo( 
iarie 
inies 
unfo 
niei( 
ploit 
privE 
coast 
the  I 
have 
j»red 
tioii 


of  F.-l 
fcer,  J 


net  of  the  f  !nne  year 
I  fptahntion   fo^tl^os^  ;. 
ly  the  American  com- 
htX  it  became  neceiiBa- 
cc  4  while  the  Ameri* 
the  act,   on  t^  a  6th  of 
)inmanding  tiic  noitli- 
le  officer  vho  commit- 
rtt,  a  copy  of  the  order, 
cted."il     This  disavow 
r>n  the  ICHli  of  Februn- 

it  had  been  with  great 
•e,  that  the  perpetration 
,  both  unauthorised  by 
>nt  to  every  American 
the  wanton  and  onjustt- 
e  bounds  of  just  retali- 
e  influence  of  irritated 

sufTci-ers  by  that  *vci^t 
i  not  been  possible  alto- 

little  congenial   to  the 

as  it  was  to  that  of  the 
•ateiy  to  adopt  any  plan 
devastation    of  private 

American  government 
committed  by  its  officer ; 
the  province  of  redrew 
A  few  days  after  the 
jdian  troops  crossed  the 
6*d  and  »iezed  fort  Nia- 
;  they  bui-Bt  the  villi  gcs 
BufYalo and  Black  Rock ; 
I    inhabitants;   until,  ia 
ofithe  Niagara  frontier, 
iddispersirg,  beyond  the 
vintpr,  the  male  and  the 
(.orge  Prevost,    h'mself 
in,  and  the  havoc,  which 
nation  of  the  12th  of  Jan  ^ 

that  for  the  homing  of 
ent  had  occurred,  and  a 
,laie;"  and  "that  it  was 
ystem  of  warfare,  80  re- 
la  congenial  to  the  Biit- 
tres  of  the  enemy  should 

,fwar,  dated  Die.  10  and  13, 

to  m  jor  general  -Wilkinsnii, 

n  to  •  ir  r.eovf^e  Pi*vo»t,  dated 
)f  Sir  George  I'rcvost,  vn  the 


47 

ecmpelhifii  again  t»  resort  to  it."*  Nay,  w'.th  his  nnnvcr  tc 
the  AtniM-icaii  g'-ncril,  ulre:idy  mentioned,  h>;  tran*>iniited  "  & 
copy  of  that  proclaiiiation,  as  expressive  of  tiie  deterniin^tion, 
as  tu  his  future  line  of  conduct;"  andaddod,  "that  he  was  hup- 
py  to  learn,  t!>at  Uiere  was  no  probiiily.  titat  any  mea?uM;ti  on 
the  part  of  the  American  government  would  oblige  him  to  de- 
part from  it."f  Where  tlien  shall  we  search  for  the  foundation 
of  the  call  upon  the  British  admiral,  to  aid  t!ic  govei-nor  uf 
Canada  in  in-jaiures  of  retaliation?  Great  Britain  forjjot  the 
principles  of  retaliation,  when  her  orders  in  council  were  isgii 
<jd  againht  the  unoffending  neutral,  in  resentment  of  outrage* 
k'.ominilted  hy  hrr  enemy  ;  -ind  surely,  she  had  again  forgotten 
the  same  principle,  when,  she  thr  atcncd  an  unci.'a^ing  violation 
of  the  laws  of  civilized  warfire,  in  retalition  for  injuries  which 
never  existed,  or  which  the  American  government  had  explicit- 
ly disavowed,  or  wljich  had  been  already  avenged  by  hep  own 
arms,  in  a  manner  and  a  degree,  eniei  and  unparalielrd.  Tim 
American  government  after  all,  has  not  hesitated  fo  declare, 
that  "for  the  reparation  of  injuries,  of  whatever  nature  they 
may  be,  not  .lanutioned  by  the  law  of  nation?,  which  the  rniiita- 
ry  or  naval  force  of  either  power  miu;ht  have  committed  nga  nst 
the  other,  it  wonhl  always  be  ready  to  enter  into  recipi  ocal  ar- 
rangements ;  presuming  that  the  British  government  woiiUl 
neither  expect,  nor  propose,  any  which  were  not  reciprocal.  ':f 

It  is  now,  however,  proper  to  exainine  the  character  of  the 
warfare,  which  Great  Britain  has  waged  against  the  United 
States.  In  Burope,  it  has  already  been  marked  with  astonish 
ment  and  indignation,  as  a  warfare  of  the  tomahawk,  the  scalp, 
ing  knife  and  the  torch ;  as  a  warfare,  incompatible  with  the 
usages  of  eivili7,ed  nations;  as  a  warfare,  that,  discliiniinp  all 
moral  influence,  inflicts  an  outrage  upon  social  order,  and  giv  >s 
•a  shock  to  the  very  elements  of  humanity.  All  belligerent  na- 
tions can  form  alliances  with  the  savage,  the  African  and  the 
blood  hound;  but  what  civilized  nation  has  selected  these  auxil- 
iaries, in  its  hostilities  ?  It  does  not  require  the  fleets  and  ar 
mies  of  Great  Britain  to  lay  waste  an  open  country ;  to  biiin 
unfortified  towns,  or  unprotected  viliag'-s ;  nor  to  plunder  the 
nieichant,  the  farmer  and  tiie  planter  of  his  stores— these  ex- 
ploits may  easily  be  achieved  by  a  single  cruizcr.  or  a  petty 
privateer;  but  when  have  such  e.iplr.iis  been  performed  en  tho 
coasts  of  the  continent  of  Europe, "or  of  the  British  Islands  by 
the  naval  and  military  force  of  any  belligerent  power;  or  when 
have  they  been  tolerated  by  anv  honourable  govrrnment.  as  the. 
predatory  enterpi-isc  of  armed  individunls  ?  Nor,  is  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  public  edifices,   which  adorn  the  metropolis    of  a 

•  -ic:  Sir  fJeorgc  Prevo.st'.)  proclamation,  d.leil  .it  q,itbec,  on  tiie  12tli  of 

t  »;■<•  tin-  I  -tfAji-  of  .Sir  Opo-tc  Prtvmr. '.-.  ffon.  Wilkinsor,  f1,-,t:;<1  the  10th 
ot  l'..„r,i!n-y,  161*  i  :in(l  the  British  ger.c.al  oraerj,  oi  ;he  iOJ  of  Khruurv. 

ber^4*'''  ^''^'''■"^''' '•""'"'  a-l^:   '1  ^ocliranc.  .hn.>j  O-u  tJ-hof  S.ptetn, 


4i 

'jrfunti-y,  atid  serve  to  comm"rnoratp  the  triftf  *>id  science  of  the 
age,  beyond  tins  .sphciv  of  Million  of  tlu".  vilest  inceiidittr>,  as  weH 
ad  tlie  1110*1  trill. i»i>ljuil  conqueror.  It  i-auiiot  befoi-ttotlen,  in- 
died,  that  in  Uic  toiir«e  of  ten  years  past,  the  cupitaTs  of  Iho 
priticipal  poweiB  of  Lurope  have  been  conquered,  and  occupied 
alteiiiatoly,  \ty  llie  vicloi'iotis  armie*  of  each  other  ,*  and  yet 
there  has  been  no  in.stiuicc  of  a  co«ilaj!;ration  of  the  palaces,  the 
teiiijilcs  or  liu«  Italic  of  justice.  No  ;  su«h  oxaniples  have  pro- 
ceeded from  («r.«„it  liritain  alone  ;  a  nation  so  elevated  in  il8 
pride;  so  awful  in  it*  power  ;  and  so  affected  iii.il»  tenderneats 
for  the  liberties  of  mankind!  The  charge  is  severe,  but  let  the 
fails  be  adduci'd. 

I.  Great  Britain  has  violated  the  principles  of  social  law,  by 
ineiduous  uttenipts,  to  excite  the  citiiieiis  of  the  United  States 
into  acts  of  contumacy,  treason  and  revolt,  against  theif  gov- 
ernment     For  iiibtanee  : 

iSo  sooner  had  the  American  government  imposed  the  re- 
strictive system  upon  its  citizens,  to  escape  from  the  rage  and 
depredations  of  the  belligerent  powers,  than  the  British  go- 
vernment then  pruftvHsing  amity  towards  the  United  States,  is- 
sued  an  order,  winch  was  in  cflect,  an  invitation  to  the  Aniori- 
can  citizens  to  break  the  lawi  of  their  country,  under  a  public 
promiHC  of  British  protectiou  and  patronage,  "to  all  vessels,  which 
should  engage  in  an  Illicit  trade,  without  bearing  the  customa- 
ry ship's  documents  and  papor»."+ 

Acaiii :  During  a   period  of  peace,  between    the  U.  States 
and  G -eat  Britain,  in  the  year  1»0»,  the  governor  general  of 
the  Uanadas   employed  an  aj;ent(who  had  previously  been  en- 
gaged in  a  si  Hilar  service  wit'.i  the  knowledge  and  approbation 
ofUie  British  cabinet)  "on  a  secret   and  confidential  mission,*' 
into  the  United  Stales  declaring,    "  that  there  was  no   doubt, 
that   his   able  execution   of  such  a  mission,  would  give  him  a 
claim,  not  wniy  on  the  governor  general,   but  on  his  majesty  9 
ministers."     Tlie  object  of  tho  mission,  was  to  aseerlian,  wheth- 
er there  existed  a  disposition  in  any  portion  of  the  citizens,  "to 
brinJ  about  a  separation  of  the  Eastern  States  from  the  gene- 
ral union  ;  and  how  far  in  such  an  event,  they  would  lock  up 
to  England  for  assistance,  or  be  disposed  to  enter  into  a  connex- 
ion with  her.'    The  agent  was  instructed  to  insinuate,  that  if 
any  of  the  citir.ens  Hhould  wish  to  enter  into  a  commonication 
wilh  the  British  government,  through  the  governor  general,  he 
was  autb  wiscdto  ivceive  such  communication;  and  that  he  would 
safely  transmit  it  to  the  govenror  general."?     He  was  accred 
itedby  a  formal  instrument,  under  the  seal  and  signature  of  tl.a 
Kovcmor  general   to  be  produced,  "  if  he  sa«  good  ground  for 
exiKscting,  that  the  doing  so  might  lead  to  a  more  eonlidcnlial 

•  See"Mr  Muiiroe's  letter  twadiniralCocbvanc,  dated  the  6lh  of  Stplcn.- 
't  See  the  instnictlors  to  the  c<  nmamlers  of  BritiiiU  ships  of  war  and 

Brivurieis,  dalcd  ih- 1  llh  of  April.  t»(/8. 

♦  Seethe  let' er  from  M:-.  Itvl.iml,  t!  c  s..-c-rli.ry  of  the  gOV-.-iior  gene-a!, 

to  Mr.  Henry,  diited  the  260*  of  JauUiiTJi  ^^■>- 


eott 

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tfti-tf  »Jirt  science  of  the 
itest  inceiidiur^, a!«  wcH 
L^amiut  be  foiKottf  II,  in- 
it,  the  cupitaTs  of  iho 
iinquered,  and  occupied 
eacii  other  ,«  and  ^et 
ation  of  the  palaces,  the 
\ch  oxaniplci»  liave  pro- 
ion  flo  elevated  in  il6 
iVectud  inLiU  tendernesfi 
^c  ta  ficvere,  but  let  the 

iciples  of  social  law,  by 
i>8  of  the  United  States 
;volt,  against  theii*  gov- 

nment  imposed  the  re- 
c;ipe  from  the  rage  and 
•s,  than  the  British  go- 
ds the  United  States,  id' 
nvitation  to  the  AniOii- 
■ountry,  under  a  public 
[ige,  "to  all  vesseU  which 
ut  bearing  the  custoni&- 

between    the  U.  States 
he  governor   general  of 
had  previously  been  en- 
wledge  and  approbation 
jd  confidential  mission,^ 
at  there  xvas  no   doubt, 
ssion,  would  give  him  a 
•al,   but  on  his  majftsty'a 
was  to  asc.erlian,  wheth- 
)rtion  of  the  citizens,  "to 
n  States   iVoni  the  gene- 
ent,  thf.y  would  lock  up 
d  to  cut».v  into  a  connex- 
cted  to  insinuate,  that  if 
r  into  a  cominonication 
the  governor  general,  he 
icati(  n;  and  that  he  ^»ould 
eral.'J     He   was  accred 
seal  and  signature  of  tLa 
'  he  sa«  good  ground  for 
id  to  a  more  conl'iilcnlial 

anc,  dated  the  6lh  of  St  ptciv.- 

of  British  ships  of  war  and 

rtiiry  of  the  govimor  gene-aJ, 


eolrtftiMiiication,  than  lit'  conld  otlr.rwi«e  l>u>kfor  ;'  ind  he>»Ki» 
funiiHheJ  witii  a  --yiilar  "  ior  cirryin;?  on  the  sffirct  corre.^. 
roiKlince'ii  Tht  viit'ie  and  patriolism  of  ih''  citi/.nH  ut  the 
lTiiit.'d  ^liU'f  wtire  superior  to  the  arts  a  I'l  rov  uptWin  eiip'fy- 
ed  in  this  setTet  end  eor-fttJentifcl'Tnifsicii.  if  it  ('\erw  »  <'  clog- 
ed  to  any  ct  tliem ;  and  rhe  ni  «si<.ii  itneU"  term  nai-^d  h« 
«ooB  as  the  arrany;finnit  nith  M>:  I'-iskine  woy  nnnounecd/, — 
But,  in  the  art  ofreoalling  theBW.n^t  emiB^ary.  he  was  inforin- 
^  "that  the  whole  of  Ids  left'TS  were  trin'^i  rlhing  to  h"  gont 
kome,  where  they  could  not  fail  of  doiTig  him  preat  credit, 
and  it  wss  hoped  they  might  eventually  contvilmto  ro  his  ptr- 
mnnent  adviuitage."**  To  endeavor  to  rrnlire  that liopo,  the 
cmiss&ry  proceeded  to  1  ondon  ;  all  the  cirtoijistanres  of  Mh 
misfion  were  made  known  to  t:h«»  British  minister;  his  serviccji 
Wcfe  approved  and  acknowledged  ;  and  he  was  sent  to  Conair» 
#or  •  reward  ;  with  a'reccmmcndatury  letter  from  lord  liiver- 
ipofll  to  air  Gaorge  Prevost,  "stating  his  lordship's  opinion  of 
-the  abilHy  «nd  judgnetit  which  Mr.  Henry  had  manifested  on 
the  occasions  mentioned  in  bib  memorial,  (his  secret  and  conli- 
duntial  missions)  aad  of  the  henetit  the  public  service  might 
derive  Trtfm  his  active  PmT>loyment.  in  any  public  situation  in 
which  Sir  George  Priivost  miglit  think  proper  to  place  him.'''tf 
The  world  will  judge  upon  these  facta,  Bn<l  the  rejection  of  a 
-parliamentary  call  ft>r  th«  protluetion  of  the  paptrs  relating  to 
thorn,  what  credit  is  due  to  the  print  e  regent's  assertion,  "  that 
Mr.  Henry's  mission  was  undertaken  williout  the  authority  of 
even  knowledge  of  his  majest3r's  gnverr.inen>."  The  first  mi s- 
«1on  was  certainly  known  to  the  British  gcvernment,  at  the 
time  it  occurred  ;  for  the  veeretary  of  the  governor  genera)  cx- 

Erebbly  states,  "tliat  the  inform'atinn  and  political  ebservnlione 
eretofore  veceived  frcm  Mv.  Henry,  were  transmittcid  by  his 
excidlcncy  to  the  setrretary  of  ntite,  who  had  exprrsfed  his  par- 
ticular approhntion  of  thein  ;"•  the  seecnd  mission  x^as  appiov- 
•d  when  it  was  known;  afid  :l  remains  for  the  British  govern- 
ment to  explain,  npon  any  established  principles  of  mwl-alify 
and  justice  the  essential  difference  between  ordering  the  of- 
fensive acts  t«  be  idonc  ;  and  reaping  the  fruit  f  those  acts, 
wUhiint  either  expressly  <or  tacitly  condemning  them. 

Again  :  These  hostile  fiMempfs  upon  the  rcaee  and  union  of 
the  U.  S.  precedirglhf;  declaraticn  of  war.  have  Wen  follow- 
ed by  similar  machir.stions.  subsequent  to  that  event.  The  go- 
vernor general  of  the  Canada s  htis  endeavored,  occasionally,  in 
his  proclamations  and  general  orders,  to  dissuade  the  riilitia 
of  the  V.  S.  from  the  peifortnanceof  the  duty  which  they  owed 

il  -so  thclett*^  of  Sh-  James  Craitf,  to  Mr.  Wcnrv.  tialed  Feb.  fi,  1809. 
I  Srethedftrne  letter,  «nd  Mr.  Krtiind'a  Irticr  cf  the  2b\\i  ol  .lanuary,  l««9 
•?  See  >fr,  ttyki.d's  Ipf-er,  dated  ih«-  idlh  of  .?ii;ie,  3809. 
4|  See  UiK  letter  fmni  lord  Liverpool  to  sir  Gt oiuc  ^ttvoit,  dated  tbe 
■  |6ih  of  .September.  18»  1 . 

•  a<e  Mr.  Hyland's  IctUr  of  the  2fi>hof  Jknu«ry,,180» 


t«  t>>clr  injnre.l  country  ;  anrl  ihn  rffort*.  at  ftn.becand  lTnMf« 
tokimllo  the  flame  of  civil  uar,  hav»^  been  a-  ince.^n  :.«  hey 
have  been  in«diou«  and  abortive.  Nay  lb.  governor  ol  "^l' '  •^'•^  « 

«i*h  manna  chartu,  in  favor  of  foreign  merchant*  found  within 
he  BrS  Sominion.,  upon  the  breaking  out  of  bo.til.ie;  re- 
.ofved  that  cvcrv  Am.rioan  merchant  within  h.H  jur.i.au ;t.u» 
Iri^e  declaration'of  war,  should,  at  once,  bo  treated  u^a  pn«on- 
!.of  wa'-  hev«iUHe.>,vcrj  citizen  of  the  Dnifd  Stutr.  wh.wi- 
rilled Tn  the  mihtia;  hecau.e  the  militia  of  the  U.  Btuiet  x^ene 
le  uirJd  to  s"  vc  thVi  r  country  beyond  the  linit.  of  the  .t.  te  U, 
J?  S  the V  particularly  belonged ;  and  because  the  mi  U.a  of  "  att 
Th  «tatcs  Aich  bad  accede.]  to  thi«mea.ure  ^ve.e,  in  the  v.ew 
If  sir  George  Bcckviith,  acting  as  a  French  con^criptu  ii.  f 

ILain  Nor  was  this  course  of.cm«Jucl  cenf.ne«f to  the  cola 
«iolfuthorWc9.  On  the  26th  of  OcU.ber.  \h\'2,  the  British  ^o- 
Ilrnment  sued  ^n  order  in  cooncil  authorising  the  ^ivernors 
I  thTBi  h  West  India  i.U«dB  to  grant  licenses  to  Ameman 
SLlefs  for  the  importation  ai.d  exportation  of  certain  articles 

paniedthe  «"^^«''  '*  ^^J*  J^  t^'bemadc  from  the  V   States  of 
„«  sSd  Vor  lB,p.,rl«i.».  f.-«n>  the  «h.r  P»'"  •»  <^  I'""- 

other.'  II  .    ,         ,  i„^„j  »v_  lawn  of  humanity  and  ho«« 

comm  t  hostilities  ajK-n  the  f'-''^'^^  °  'J;  \^^^^^  ^  has  .on-c- 
notorious  to  adnut  of  ^^''-^^^.^^^J^.f  ^^et  .^as  unauthorised 
tlmee,  however,  been  «'^>«1-  ^'^jj  f '^^'^  1 .  ,ee  regent,  seizing  the 

S^^iifi^^t  K";;;;;::iti;n^s^ .  be|,ve„  o^u.ep.. 

"^;re..en...aUe..e^per  i.uca  by  ,ove..or  Bec.w.tb.  .  »«. 
badges.  ..n  U,e  1  J-b  "^  .^.''l^^-'lj:'' '"  .fnor  of  Hcnnuda,  dated  the  14th  of 

,.:„f:.:  rs,rSur  inL-irci^i  ti.n.  u.  i3.-.i^.  .-..t., ».  io.^8. 

•"'^eeS";li^::;'i^"^"e  preside,  to  con.re.,.  d.t«l  the .4th  «f  FA- 
ruav)»  l*>l.^. 


at  <in jfbec  »nrf  If  nHtu* 
en  a-  iiitebfant  its  ihey 
e  governor  ol'  tlif  i»land 
UHlL'd  »rtj(  Ic  ot  the  llri- 
merchantf  found  witliin 
ig  out  «f  hoHtili«tef«,  re- 
within   hiH.jurifxlu-tioii 
,  be  tre.ited  iiKii  prinon- 
E  United  Stutrs  whsoti- 
,  of  the  U.  Btiiipfc  were 
heluiitf  of  the  stale U> 
i-cauite  lh«  militia  of  "  all 
RHiri'  were,  in  the  view 
•nch  conscription.'"! 
ucl  cciifmedi  to  tlic  cola 
er.  \hV2,  the  Briliuh  {r» 
itliorising  tlic  jiovrriiorB 
iinl  licensee  to  American 
at  ion  of  certain  articleB 
iBtruciions  whw-'h  aecom- 
•oxided,  tiiat  "wtintever 
Ic  from  the  V   States  of 
to  the  jxntB  in  the  casV 
I  reason  to  suppose,  that 
ulfilled,  if  litcnses  were 
olbei-  portB  in  the  Untt^ 

has  not  hesitated  U>  plate 
a  just  indigMtion,  "the 
d  to  tlie  world  ;  iutrodui^ 
jni  equally  distinguished 
he  depravity  of  its  char* 
iHHolve  the  ties  of  allegi- 
he  adversary  nation  ;  aiid 
parts,  ti.e  one  from  the 

WH  of  humanity  and  hon* 
ition  of  the  war,  with  b»- 

le.  Iin'ians  at  all  times  to 
f  the  ITuiteci  States,  is*  too 
iieral  denial  It  has  son.e- 
L'onduct  was  unauthorised 
prince  regent,  seieing  the 
^od  to  he  given  on  tlie  part 

jy  goveiiior  Beckwiil),  at  »ar- 

•  nciinuda,  dated  the  1 4th  of 
lie  Bi-iUsJi  !.cCJi;U.rj  o»  toit»ft» 

on4!m5>t«lthc24thnfFA< 


$1 

of  sirJam.'i  (  ruij;.  governor  of  the  Cnnii<lss,  tiial  an  nttaeR 
was  miditiiUul  hy  ll^ic  liultim*.  ha*  ilVinrud,  tlirit  •■the  eiisrg* 
of  «'\,i.itii;  tlie  iuilJans  to  offcnsivf  mi  a«.iire»  a>;ainot  the  I'nit- 
ed  Stnti's  was  void  of  t'oun'littion ;  tljat  before  tie  wiir  began,  » 
policy  tlie  most  opiio-ile  liid  been  nnil. rinly  iuh-simI  ;  ard  that 
proof  of  i  III-*  vvastrndei-edby  Mr.  I'n.'jlcr  to  the  Aineii'Mii  govern- 
in.  lit. "'^  D.it  in  it  not  known  in  Kuf  jh;  ru  «('U  as  In  Anienen, 
thil  tlie  lli'itish  iVoi'th  '.v.'st  C^oinpuiy  maintain  a  eorisl'inl  inter. 
c<urse  of  traiic  aivleouneil  wi'.htlu-  liid.iins;  tlmt  their  interests 
areoften  in  lireet  jollision  with  the  intcreils  of  thoinliiiliitiint-.  of 
»he  Unil'd  Slaten,  and  that  by  means  of  th''.  iniuiieal  (li«poii- 
iions  and  th  active  aijc-neies  of  the  ewmpnny  (i<  en,  underbtoi.d, 
and  tacitly  wmcti'ntd  by  the  U'cnl  auilioiitii  s  of  (,"aniu!a)iill  tlie 
•viis  of  an  Imlian  war  may  bu  slicdupi  n  tlie,  U.  Stales,  wiU.oi!* 
•he  authority  of  a  foriniil  order,  euianitiiig  inimeuialely  from 
tl.e  IJeiiihh  f,overnnjent.'  Hence,  tlic  Amt-riejii  ii^overnnient, 
in  an'^wcr  to  tli"  ev,t>ive  pioli-.blalionH  of  lln!  l{^iti^h  mitiistcp 
»c«!iling  at  Wa9liin;j;,ljii,  frankly  eommumculcd  the  eviden(  e  if 
British  H^en-y.  whieh  had  betu  received  at  difiVrfnt  period* 
■ioce  the,  yatLV  lb07;  and  observed,  "tliot  whatever  may  huve 
been  the  disposition  of  the  British  government,  the  cunouct  of 
its  subordinate  o^entH  had  tended  to  excite  the  hostility  of  the 
Indiintribea  ti>ward9tlie  United  States;  and  that  in  e8lima;ii  g 
•he  comparative  evidence  on  tho  siit.ject,  it  wan  impoxsihle  not 
to  re'oHect  the  communication  late'y  made  rehpeeliiig  the  con- 
ductof  sir  James  Craig  in  anothi;!'  irnpoiiatit  Irans.u  tion  (the 
emplovmejit  of  MV.,  Hinry  a-,  an  accredited  agent,  to  alienato 
and  detach  tho  citizens  of  a.  partitular  section  of  tie  Unioa 
fvom  ih"ir  government)  which,  it  appeared,  was  approved  by 
firivA  Llverpcoi  '■  i 

The  proof  howver,  that  the  British  agents  and  military  otli- 
tens  were  guilty  of  tlic  charge  thus  exiiil.iicd,  become  conciii- 
■i\i',  wlieri  subsequent  to  the  coiinnunicalicn  which  was  iiiado 
»»  the  JJritihh  luinister,  the  defeat  and  tliiiht.  of  general  Pri.etor'g 
army.  or.  the  of  i>laced  in  the  po!-se,st.ion  of  (lie  A- 

in.'victn  commander,  the  cori-spur.dcnceand  piipcrs  of  the  ftii. 
lish  otiieers  Seh  eted  from  tlie  documents  whii  li  were  obtain> 
•d  upon  th.it  occa-ion.  the  contents  of  a  i'tw  klters  will  .'•erve 
to  characte.isi'  the  whole  of  tlie  mags.  In  these  litters,  wiit. 
ten  by  Mr.  MKcc  tl>e  Brii.ish  agent,  to  colonel  KunUud.  the, 
ommander  oftiie  Uritislv  troops.  snpciHci  ibe(i  '-on  his  .>iajcs- 
tVs  St  i-viee,"  and  dated  dui-iric;  111...  mouHia  of  July  and  August, 
l/'94.  tha  pc'iod  of  general  Wayne's    succest-ful    expedil:<  n  a^ 

f'ltnst  t'le  In.-Jians,  it  aop^ars  that  the  sealpn  taken    l:v  the  In- 
lans  were  sent  to  the  British  establishment  at  tin;  rapid.i  cl  tho 


iibnr, 


^  Sec  111.,  piirice  regent's  dcclar.itioii  of  the  lOih  of  .Tfinu.irv,  IKlj 
S"e  ako  Mr^^I-ovter's  letuis  .o  Mr.  Mnnme,  d^ifj-l  li.e  2  .il.    I),  rem: 

.K    L'v""i  'J"'  '^"  ""''  *'^  "*'•'"'"-■•  '^''  •■  ■"-'1  ^^'•-  >loii'"tN  «a..'.w  r,   .;:.■>', i 
th    9ihot  ,F.mo;:ry,  18u'.  and  the  iOtl.  uf  Jane,  18!.',  and  li.e  docuuinits 
which  .■iccun-ipiiny  the  roi-iesionftencf. 
^  See M*.  .VJoaroc's  Ict'cr  to  Mr.  Toatei',  d.ircd  the  lOdj  ot  Jum-,  iai2. 


5* 

Srami*  that  the  hoslilt  operations  of    the  Indians  were  con- 
lllTd  ;vith  the  British  agcat.  tuid  officer*  ;t  that  vrhen  certam 
trbe.  oflrVdianH  "  Iraving  oo.r.pleted  the  belts  they  car.-.ed  w.th 
scali  and  prisoner.,  and  hoing  with»«it  provisions,  resolved  ou 
7oX  homS    it   was  la.ncnted^hat  hi.  majesty's   posts  wou  d 
derive  nrsccurity  from  the  late  great  influx  of  Indians  into 
tha   part  of  thSnlry,  should  they  persist  in  their  resolution 
of  .etC,  iitr-onr/that  "  tha  British  agents  were  m.med. 
ally  to    hold  a  co.in.nl  at  the  (ll.zc,    in  order  to  try  it    they 
could  prevail  on  tho  I  ^ke  Indians  to  remain;  hnt  that  without 
^oSns  and  ammunition  being  sent  to  that  P>ace  |t J- con 
ceivedto  be  extremely  difficult  to  keep  V"'™  '^^e^ 'er        •mj 
th  t  "colonel  Bnf^landwa^  making  great  *^-^«' *'«»«  ' \«'^f P'f„ 
the  Indians  with  provisions  "H     Butthe  lan|,-ia6e  «/.  ^  '«  ^"^J^^ 
pondence  becomes  at  length  so  plam  and  ^'^ect     Y,   •J;;;';;^ 
impossible  to  avoid  the  coneln^ion  oi  a  govcrnmeBtal  '^g^J^J  /*" 
tKrt  of  Cneat  Brilain,  in  advising    aiding,  and  eonducung 
he'lndian  war,   while   «he  professed  fr  end-up  -^  P°a^^  °- 
^.•Mr/ls  the  U.  Slate*.     "  Scouts  are  sent  {says  Mr.  M  Kee  lo  co 
w1   Ensfa^d,)  to  view  the  situation  of  ^^^  ^Z'tZ'^'lu- 
andtre  now  muster  ime  thousand  Indians.     All  the  L;^kc  \? 
S?ans   from  Sugana  downwards,  should  not  lose  <>"«  n)<?'"«^Vd 
fSig^hei.  brethren    as  e^^^^^^^^^^^ 

titTu^H  ^In^d-liiit  rThe  Indians,  who  have  been 
dH^eiMoui  their  v.Il.ges  and  oornlields,    between  the  fort-and 
tie  i       Swan  Creek  i.  generally  agreed  upon,  and  w.    bea 
verv  com-cncnt  place  for  the  delivery  of  provisions,  &<=• 
Wlfethcr,  under  L  ^^-^--Vrof^^t^:^\^:if 

peace,  F--;^3„;;;,i'^  ;.    ^a,  "heitithe  war  began   a  poli- 

r;  aS^:;' on:2r;u;:  t::.^^^n  government  is  not  disposed, 
mote  P»-r''^"l'^\*>' ''^  ,VY,'r!f  ;^Jte«  of  iust    complaint,  arising 

in  a  time  of  pea.o,  il  will  *^^  .*'  ""^'overmnent  with  the  Indians, 
clarcd,  the  aUianceofthe  Br,    .hgoveimne^^^^ 

^as  avowed,  upon  pr.Mcnpes.  the  '•^^^VeH^i-.b  ought  into  the 

r^.::'u;rs;^:;";-^^^r  without  r^ardto  the 

t  Sie  the  same  letter. 

fc  Sec  thf  same  Ufer. 

i^;^0^:r.-^:^  Mr.  M'Kee  to  Col.  England.  <lated  Uie  13tb  of  Au- 
«*'^4L'the  leucr  from  the  same  to  the  same,  dutcd  the  30th  of  August. 
*' n  see  the  prince  re.cn.'.  dccl»r.t.on  of  the  lOth  ef  J.  W.  1813. 


f  the  Indians  were  cotj- 
cers  ;t  that  when  certain 
i»  belts  they  carried  with 
It  provisions,  resolved  on 
»  majesty's  yiobls  would 
Bit  influx  of  Indians  into 
)er8ist  in  their  resolution 
tish  agents  were  immedi- 
,   in  order  to  try  if   they 
•emain  ;  bnt  that  without 
to  that  place  it  was  con- 
ep  tlicra  together -."i  and 
rreat  oxertions  to  supply 
"e  lanji  lage  of  the  toi  rea- 
and  direct,  that  it  seems 
I  governmental  agency  oa 
g,  ajdinp.  and  conducting 
1  frier.d»l»ip  and  peace  te- 
nt {says  Mr.  M  Kee  to  co- 
n.  of  the  Anieiioan  army; 
Mans.     All  the  Lake  la- 
id not  lose  one  moment  in 
jssion  of  strength  is  an  ad- 
:    "  I  have  been  employed 
ie  Indians,  who  have  been 
Ids,    between  the  fort  and 
agreed  upon,  and  will  he  a 
ry  of  provisions,  &c."**— 
r  the  Britisli  agency,  in  ex- 
Jnited  States,  in  »  time  of 
;he  present  narrative,    the 
lore  the  war  began,  a  ))oli- 
■mly  pursued,"  by  the  Bri- 
1  to  a  want  of  information , 
rovernmcnt  is  not  disposed, 

ofjnst  complaint,  arisiny 
that  when  the  war  was  de- 
jvernmcnt  with  the  Indians, 
losl  novel,  producing  conse- 
ivai'es  wevt^  brought  into  the 
.Hies,  without  regard  to  the 

,f;-b,u1.date.U)>.  2nd  July,  17M. 
me,  dated  the  5lU  of  July,  \7^- 


I,  England,  dated  tlie  13tb  of  Au- 
;  same,  dated  t!ie  30th  of  August, 
of  the  lOlh  cf  J.  auai7»  ^'^^*- 


53 

inhuman  character  of  their  warfare  ;  which  neither  spares 'ago 
n<ir  sex  ;  and  winch  is  more  desperate  towards  tue  captive,  at 
the  stake;  than  even  towards  tlie  combatant,  lu  the  iielo.  It 
Bceund  to  be  a  stipulation  of  the  compact  between  tlie  uilies, 
that  tlie  iJritish  n4ight  imitate,  but  sliould  not  control  the  fero- 
city of  the  savdjjcs. —  VViiile  the  liritisii  troops  beiioUl,  without 
compunction,  the  tomahawk  and  the  scalping  knife,  brandished 
against  prUonars,  old  men  and  ehiidien,  and  even  aj^aint  preg- 
nant women,  and  while  they  exultingly  accept  the  blouoy  scalps 
of  the  slaui^htered  Americans  ;?i  the  Indian  exploits  in  batllt- ,  are 
recounted  and  applauded  by  t[;e  Uritish  general  orders.  Rank 
and  station  are  assigned  to  them,  in  the  military  movrnienta 
of  the  British  army  ;  and  the  unhallowed  league  wasraliiied, 
with  appropriate  tmblenifrv  by  intertwining  an  American  scalp, 
with  the  detoialioiis  of  themaee,  which  the  c*  ninmnder  of  the 
northern  urmy  of  the  United  felates  found  m  the  Wgisiativo 
chamber  ot  York,  the  capital  of  rppcr  Caiiada. 

In  the  single  scene,  that  succeeded  the  battle  of  Pi-enchtown, 
near  the  river  Raisin,  where  the  American  troops  were  defeated 
by  the  allies,  under  the  command  of  gen.  Proctor,  there  will  be 
found conceiiratedupen  indisputable  proof,  an  illustration  of  the 
honors  of  the  warfare,  which  G.  Britain  has  pursued,  and  still 
pursues,  ill  cooperiaton  with  the  savages  of  the  sou'h,  aji  we!! 
as  witl'  the  savages  of  the  north  The  American  army  c.ipitulat- 
ed,  on  the  2id  Jan.  1»13 ;  yet,  after  the  faith  of  the  IJritish  com- 
mander had  been  pledged,  in  the  terms  of  the  capitulation  ;  and 
while  the  British  olBcers  and  soldiers,  silently  and  exult  ingy  eon- 
tenplated  the  scene,  some  of  the  Anierican  prisoners  of  war 
were  tomahawked,  some.  wep«  ''hot  and  some  were  burnt.  Many 
of  the  unarmed  inhabitants  of  the  Michigan  territory  were  maa- 
BftL-red  ;  their  property  was  plundered,  and  their  hor-es  were 
d  stroyedliil  The  dead  bodi'S  of  the  mingled  Americans,  were 
exposed,  unburied.  to  be  devoured  by  dogs  and  swine:','  because, 
as  the  B.  itish  otftoers  declared,  the  Indians  would  not  permit 
the  interment  ;''5^  and  so.nc  of  the  Americans,  who  survived 
the  carnage,  had  been  extricated  from  danger,  only  by  being 
ptirehiis*?!!  at  a  price,  as-  a  part  of  the  booty  belonging,  to  the  In- 
dians But,  to  tomplete  this  dreai!fiil  view  of  human  depravi- 
ty, aiiid  human  wretchednes.s,  it  is  only  neccsswry  to  add,  that 
an  Ameriean  physician,  who  wns  desp^.tched  with  a  flag  of 
truce,  to  ascertain  the  situation  of  his  wounded  brethren,  and 
tM  o  persons,  his  companions,  were  iuterccpted  by  the  Indians, 

1  .Sr>  iiif  letter  from  the  American  general.  Hiurisoii  to  the  Uritisli  |^e» 
Fi'OGior, 

!i,f  ii  Ie:terfrom  the  nrilish  Major  Mtiir,  In'Vian  agent,  to  Col.  Proctor 
datct!  i!i(  2(jih  <iffee;itenibei-,  \^Vi,  :»iul  a  leUtT  from  Col.  St.  Ginrge  toCol. 
Pi'oislor,  dated  the  ^8th  of  October,  1812,  found  among  Col.  Pioctoi-'s  pa- 
ptrs. 

M  Spp  'lit'  lor.iii'toftheeomm'tteeof  the  house  ofRoprescntativf  s,  on  the 
SI  St  of  July,  1812  ;  and  the  d<  posit'on-.  and  docum^  n'.i  pccompunying-  it. 

'iSi.-M'c  tht  illici.d  report  of  Mr.  iiakcr,  the  affcnt  fjr  Uie  prisoners,  to 
Brig,  tien  Wiiiuiitibtvr,  vUted  the  ^JtiOi  of  i;'«U'U|U-y,  l^li, 

D3 


54 


in  their  humane  misskm  •  the  privilege  of  the  flag  was  disfc- 
garded  by  the  British  oflicers  ;  the  physician,  att>i- being  wouu- 
led,  and  one  of  hi*  companiona,  were  made  pviBoners  ;  and  tli« 
third  person  of  the  party  waakilltdlil 

But  the  savage,  who  had  never  known  the  reBtran.ta  of  civil- 
izcd  life,  and  the  piriile  who  had  bi  okei.  the   bonds  ot  society, 
were»ilke  the  objects  of  liii'ish  conciliation  and   alliance,  tor 
the  purpose's  of    an    unparalelled  warfare.     A  horde  of  pirates 
and  outlaws  had  formed  a  confederacy  and  establishment  on  the 
island  of  Ban-ataria,  near  th«  mouth    of  the  river   Alississii-pi. 
Will  Europe  believe,  that  the  commander  ol  the  British  forc€3» 
addressed  the  leader  of  the  confederacy,  from  the  neutral  terri- 
tory of  Pensacola,"  calling  upon  him,  with  hi«  brave  followers, 
to  enter  into  the  service  of  v.reat  Britain,  in  which   he   should 
have  the  rank  of  captain  ;  promising  that  lands  sliould  be  given 
to  them  all,  in  proportion  to  their  respective  ranks,  on  a  peace 
takiBK  place  i  assuring  them,  that  their  property  should  be  guar- 
anteed and  their  persons  pi-otected;  and  asking,  in  return,  tha„ 
they  would  cease  alLliostilities  against  Spain,  or  the  s^'ies  ot  w^ 
Britain,    and  place  their  ships  and  vessels,  under  the  British 
commanding  officer   on  the    station,  until  the  commander  m 
chiefs  pleasure  should  be  known,  with  a  guaranttee  of  their  fair 
value  at  aU  events?'*     There   wanted  ""'^  *°  «';«"Pi'f>'.  *J^ 
debas.ment  of  such  an  act,  the  occurrence,  that  the  prate 
thoald  spurn  the  proffered  alliance,  and  accordingly,    Lahttes 
answer  was  indignantly  given,  by  a  dehvery  ot  the  letter,  con- 
taining the  BriiisiT  proposition,  to  theAmerican  governor  of  Lou- 

**' There  we.e  other  sources,  however,  of  support,  which  Great 
Britair.  was  prompted  by  her  vengeance  to  employ,  .n  ^posi- 
tion  to  the  plainest  dictates  of  her  own  colonial  policy.     The  e- 
vcms!  which  have  e^irpated,  or  dispersed,  vhe  '''"te    Popu U- 
Uon  of  at.  Domingo,  are  in  the  recollection  of  a  I  men.  Although 
British  bmnanity  might  not  shrink,  from  the  infliction  of  simi- 
far  ca    iSs  u^n  tfie  southern  states  of  A"-  c*'/  - ''-f^ 
If  that  course,  cTther  as  an  ineitemeirt  to  a  revolt  of  the  slaves 
tnthe  BiUish  islands,  or  as  acause  of  retaliation  on  the  part  of 
the  United  States  ought  to  have  admonished    her  against  its 
Idou^on     Yet'  in  a  formal  proclamation  issued    by  the  com- 
m3ei    n  chief  of  his  Britannic  majesty's  squadrons,  upon  the 
Xmen can  st  tton  the  slaves  of  the  American  planters  were  in- 
Ti  ed  toloin  the  British  standard,  in  a  covert  phraseology,  that 
Iff'n  e  1^  but  a  slight  veil  for  the  real   design.      Thus    adm.ra 
Co  haie  reciting  "that  it  hnd  been  represented   to  him,  that 
lianvper'sousnow  resident  in  the  l^iited  States,  hadj^xpressea 
TdeLe  to    withdraw  therefrom,  with  a   view  of  entering  into 

Tuwlsiiiai  Mi««lV«a,tU»crt  HicJlst«tA»g«st,]814v 


$» 


of  the  flag  W&8  disfc- 
8ician,at't.'i-  being  wouu* 
(lade  pvisonei'tt  ;  and  tlia 

n  the  restraints  of  civil- 
:ii  the   bunds  of  society, 
iatibii  aiid    alliance,  fur 
are.     A  horde  of  pirates 
md  CBtablishmeiit  on  the 
jf  the  river  Mis8i8»ii>pi. 
der  of  the  British  forc€3» 
f,  froiii  the  neutral  terri- 
I'ith  liis  brave  followers, 
in,  in  wiiich   he   should 
at  lanJa  should  be  given 
jective  ranks,  on  a  peace 
property  should  be  guar- 
d  asking,  in  return,  that 
Spain,  or  the  allies  of  O 
8sel«,  under  the  British 
until  the  commander  in 
a  guaranttee  of  their  fair 
id  only  to  exemplify  the 
iurrence,  that  the  pirate 
id  accordingly,    Lafitte'e 
elivery  of  the  letter,  con- 
merican  governor  of  Lou* 

of  support,  which  Great 
ice  to  employ,  in  opposi- 
1  colonial  policy.     The  e« 
ersed,  vhe  white    popula- 
tion of  all  men.  Although 
rom  the  infliction  of  simi- 
•8  of  America,  the  danger 
rt  to  a  revolt  of  the  slaves 
'  retaliation,  on  the  part  of 
nonished    her  against  its 
itian  issued    by  the  com- 
esty's  squadrons,  upon  the 
imerican  planters  were  in- 
a  covert  phraseology,  that 

desifin.  Thus,  admiral 
I  vppnsented  to  him,  tliat 
lited  States,  had  cxpiessea 
th  a   view  of  entering  into 

ec  warfiire,  iimlei'  British  auspi- 
ulciice  beiwfcn  «eii.   Uarnson 

,clio1%U.  col.  commamliiighia 
M.msicui  l.»fitto,or    tliccpra- 


th  mffi««f«'#  #mw<>,  or  of  being  received  a»  free  teHfera  int«r 
aume  of  liiH  majosty  s  colonies,"  proclaimed  that  •  all  tho.-e  who 
Biitfht  be  disposed  to  emigrate  from  the  United  Stales,  Would, 
with  their  families,  be  received  on  board  his  majesty's  ships  «)r 
vessels  of  war,  or  at  the  military  posts  that  might  be  establish- 
ed upon,  or  near,  the  coast  of  the  United  S^ate^  when  th.y 
would  have  their  choice  of  either  entering  mto  his  majesty  a 
,eaw  land  forces,  or  of  being  sent  as  free  settlers  to  the 
British   posBcssiuns    in    ^orth  Ameiica,   or  the    West  Indies, 

where   they    would  meet    all    due    encouragement  "f i«ut 

even  the  negroes  seen.,  in  contempt,  or  disgust,  to  hav  recibl- 
ed  the  solicitation  ;  no  rebellion,  or  massacre,  ensued  ^sml  the 
alleeation,  olt-iu  reicated,  that  in  relation  to  those  who  were 
■educed,  or  forced,  f  tor.  the  service  of  their  masters,  mstanciO 
have  occurred  of  soiiu,  being  afterwards  transported  to  the  Uj  i- 
lash  West  India  Isl  .r,('s,  and  there  sold  into  slavery,  for  the  be- 
nefit of  the  captors,  remains  without  contradiction.  So  coin- 
plicated  an  act  of  injustice,  would  demand  the  reprobation  of 
mankind.  And  let  the  British  government,  which  professes  a 
iust  abhorrence  of  the  African  slave  trade;  which  endeavors  to 
impose,  in  that  respect,  rebtraints  upon  the  domestic  policy  of 
France,  Spain,  and  Portugal;  answer,  if  it  can,  the  »olemn 
eiiarge  against  their  faith,  and  their  humanity. 

3  Great  Britain  has  violated  the  laws  of  civilized  warfare, 
by  pluadering  private  property  j  by  outra-jing  female  honor  ; 
by  burning  unprotected  cities,  townn,  villages  and  houses  ;  and 
by  laying  waste  whole  districts  of  aa  unresisting  country. 

The  menace  and  the  practice  of  the  British  naval  and  militar 
iw  force,  "  to  destroy  and  lay  waste  such  towns  and    distncU^ 
«poi.  the  American  coast,  as  might  be  fouad  assailable,"  hav« 
been  cxoused  upon  the  pretext  of  retaliation,  for  the  wanton  acs- 
•ruction  committed  by  the  American  army  in  Upper  Canada ;% 
but  the  fallacy  of  the  pretext  has  already  been  exposed.    It  witl 
be  recollected,  however,  that  the  act   of  burning   Nt  warK  was 
instantaneously  disavowed  by  the  American  government  ;  that 
it  occurred  in  December    1813— and  that  sir   George    Provost 
himself  acknowledged,  on '^e  TOth  of  February,  1811,  that  the 
measure  of  retaliation  for  all  the  previously  impnti  d    misron- 
iuctof  the  American  troops,  was  then  fuM  and  e>mplete.||  Be- 
tween the  month  of  February,  1811.,  when  that    ackn.r.vledt;e-' 
meat  was  made,  and  the  month  of  August,  1814,  when  the  Bn- 
tish  admiral's   denunciation  was  ifsued,    what  aw  the  outrage* 
upon  the    part  of    the  American   troops   in  Canada,  to  jcMi- 
fy  a  call  for  retaliation  ?     No:  it  was  the  system,    not  the  ,n  i- 
dent,ofthe  war;  and  intelligence  of  the  system    had    been  re- 
ceived at  Washington,  from  the  American  agents    m    Kuioj.e, 
rtith  reference  to  the  operations  of  admiral    Warren,  upon  the 
shores  of  the  Chesapeake,  long  before  Admiral  Cochrane   had 

2ui 


,  the 


111   o',' \' 


f  -e<?  ailmiral  Caclirane'*  pnjclumiilioii,  dated   Bermuda 

"'i'sce admiral  Cochrane^  letter  to  Mr.  Moi.r  K^-'ated   •)''!T';s'  '«.   »  >»'i- 
n  Secsii- r.eo.-,.e  Prevost's  Idler  to  gen.  Wifku.t^h  datvd  th«lOJ>«Jf 
Febru»rj,1814. 


B6 

gtifTuzAed  to  the  command  of  the  British  deet  on  the  American 

Blution. 

As  ail  appropriate  introduction  to  the  kind  of  war,  which 
Great  Uritaia  iiitcmled  to  w.<^e  against  the  itihabitaiits  of  the 
Liiitcd  fstites,  tiaiisactiouB  wciirrciJ  in  England,  lui.ier  the  a- 
voweU  iiiiccLioii  of  the  gov»!Ciuueut  itself  tiiat  could  not  fail  to 
wound  the  iiuual  sense  ot"evcp\  candid  and  generous  Mpectator. 
All  theodicci-fl  aim  mariutr.iof  liie  Ainericdu  merchant  whipst, 
who,  havinjj  los?  their  v-^bsels  in  other;  laces,  had  goii«  to  Eng. 
land  on  tlie  way  to  A-m^'rita  ;  or  whohud  been  employed  in 
B'-itish  merclmtit  «hip«,  but  were  dcsiious  of  returning  nonie} 
or  who  hud  been  detained,  in  consequence  of  coadeixniation  of 
their  vessels  under  tiie  liritish  ordn.s  in  coun(.il  ;  or  who  had 
%riived  in  Cwg'.and,  throii-h  any  of  th»  other  catuaiuea  of  the 
seafaring  life ;  were  condemned  to  be  treated  as  prisoners  of 
war;  nay,  some  of  th-tn  were  actually  impressed,  while  soiicit. 
Jng  their  pa.spoits  ;  alt.iOUd^h  not  on;-  of  thuir  number  had  been 
in  any  wav,  engaged  in  ho*.li!itie»Pgain^t  G.  B. ;  and  although 
the  American  govt-rnnient  hadaffordid  eveiy  facility  to  the  de- 
parture of  the  su.ne  clash,  as  well  as  of  every  class  of  British  sub- 
jects from  the  U.  8.  for  a  reasonable  period  aftcrthe  declaration 
of  war.*  But  this  act  of  injustice,  for  whicii  even  the  pretext  of 
retalintton  has  not  been  ad\Ane»-d,  was  accompanied  by  another 
.^f  still  greater  cruelty  and  oppression  The  A  aieriean  seamen 
who  h.»d  been  enlisted,  or  impressed,  into  the  naval  service  of 
Great  Britain,  were  lonn;  stained,  and  many  of  them  are  yet 
retained,  on  board  of  British  ship.s  of  war.  ■wbtrcthey  are  con^ 
pellcd  to  combat  against  their  country  and  !;1ieir  friends:  and 
even  wlien  the  British  government  tardily  am!  reluctantly  re- 
cognized  the  cifiz'»nbhip  of  impressed  Americans,  t&  the  num- 
ber e.sccedii,^..  l(HO  ata  single  naval  *!ati.>n.  and  dismi>*i<edtlam 
from  its  service  on  the  water  ;  it  wag  onJy  to  imnmr>;  them  aft 
p,is*vu  rs  of  war  on  shore.— These  unfortur.ate  persons,  who 
iiad  passed  into  the  power  of  tiic  British  government,  by  a  vio- 
lation of  theit  own  rights  and  inclinationi,  as  wtll  as  of  th« 
ri.i.ts  of  their  country,  and  whoconld  only  be  regarded  as-tha 
ip'liils  of  unhiwful  violence,  were,  nevertheless,  treated  as  the 
fi'utu  of  lawful  war.  Such  was  the  in  lemniflcation  which  G  Brit. 
»in  offered  for  the  wrongs,  that  8i;e  had  inflicted  ;  and  such  the 
rewa-d  which  she  b-stowed,  for  services  that  she  hadroceived.f 

Nor  has  the  spirit  of  Britrs.'i  warfare  been  confined  to 
violations  of  the  usages  »i  civilized  nations,  in  relation  to  the 
r  it.vl  S!it"s.  The  svsfem  df  blockade,  by  orders  in  council, 
Itas  been  revived;  and  the  American  co.  st  from  Maine  to  Lc:- 
isiana.  has  b-en  declared,  by  tl,e  proclamation  of  a  British  ad- 
miral to  be  in  a  state  of  blockade,  which  every  day's  ©hs  rva- 
tion  proves- to  be,  [»ac-tieally,  inetfeetual,    and  which,  mde.  d, 

'   •  SeoTlT-  Ileasley's  correspondenc;  with  Uic  Britis!)  government,  in  Oc. 
■    fc'jhr,  November,  and  December,  1H12 

.See,  also,  tl.e  .ict  .)t  C..ngre."s,  pasrjJ  the  6tli  of  My,  ««I2. 

t  six:  tlic  le'.wr  trom  Mr.  Bcasley  to  Mr.  M'Uay,  dalnd  Uw  IS'U  of  Mui  jSk 


fleet  on  the  AniertcaiSt 

le  kind  of  war,  which 
tlie  idhabitaiits  tif  tlie 
Eiiglaitd.  luiticr  the  &• 
r  tliut  could  not  tail  to 
nd  generous  Mpectator. 
M'icdU  KiiTch;iut  »hip>t, 
ices.  had  gon«  to  Eng- 
fiud  been  ein^jloyod  in 
lus  of  returning  honiej 
ice  of  coadeaiiiation  of 
I  coun(-il  ;  or  who  had 
other  catualt  iea  of  the 
Lreated  as  prUoneri*  of 
njipesBed,  while  solicit- 
huir  number  had  boea 
t  G.  B. ;  and  although 
vei y  t'acihtw  to  the  d»i- 
jry  class  of  British  »ub- 
•>d  after tiie  declaration 
lich  even  the  pretext  of 
coompanied  by  another 
The  A  anericaii  seamen 
to  the  naval  service  of 
many  of  them  are  yet 
r.  where  they  are  con»- 
[ind  "lioir  friends:  and 
ily  am!  reluctantly  re- 
imencans,  to  the  num- 
(\n.  and  dismissiedtlifm. 
i!y  to  imnimv;  them  aft 
ortuuate  persons,    who 
I  government,  by  a  vio- 
tiofli,  as  Will  as  of  th« 
nly  ber"garded  a:j'the 
iheless,  treated    as    the 
lifleation  which  (3  Brit, 
inflicted  ;  and  such  the 
that  she  had  received. f 
are   been     confined    to 
ions,  in  relation  to  tlio 
e,  by  ordiTt-  in  council, 
.  st  from  Maine  to  Loi> 
matiou  of  a  British  ad- 
;(,  every  day'i;  ©hs-rva* 
il,    and  which,  indei  <?, 

;  Brilib!)  government,  in  Uc 

1  of  Ju!r,  1S12. 

.ay.dHltai  Uw  IS'Uof  Muiplk 


ST 

the  whole  of  the  British  navy  would  he  cnahW  to  «>"ft'^«  *"^* 
tfuh.tain  t    Nciih.r  the  orders  in  council,  acknowledged  to  o 
ge,    ,a  ly\nlawlul.  and  declared  to  b.  "'^''f'J'  -'''"^i^^"'';  ' 
Ivance  -nor  ihe  ii«tlia  and  Milan  decrees,  which  placed  the  Bu- 
*  h  Ul-mds  in  a  state  of  blockade,  wthout  the  fo.ceot  as.ng.c 
Chiron  to  maintain  it.  were,  u.  pnnciple    »^'^^.»'1«'J'-"'  , « 
Se   rights  ut    n.utralco,ame..t;e,    than   the  ex.stn.g  blockade 
•fthetntod  Srutos.     The  revwai,   theretore,  of  the  s^ste.a, 
iltlLt      e  retalliato.-y  pvctext,  mustdernonarate  to  the  v^oM- 
Td,  '.rnunation,  on  th.  part  of  Great  BvUain  to  aoqnne  a  com- 
u.erc.ul  .nonopol.v,  by  every  demonstration  «'^ '•"'';*  /";;,; 
The  trade  of  the  Viiiled    States  wUh    Kuss.a,  and  »»th  otKr 
northern  powers,   by  whose  goverw.euts  no  edicts,   violati;^ 
neut  a  n,^"  ,  had  been  issued,  was  cut  off  by  the  «perat,on  o£ 
?he  Briti.t.  orders  in  council-of  the  year  Ib07,  a,  efiectoally  r.» 
their  trad.,  with  Prance  and  her  allies,  although  the  retaliato.y 
princii;lc  wa.  totally  inapplkable  to  the  case.     Ai.d  the  block- 
ade  ot- Ih-  year  1814.  is  an  attempt  toOtstroy  the  trade  of  thc^e 
nations,  and,  indeed,  of  all  ^*e  other  nation.  ''*  *'"«-«P^;  */^     'J 
United    States;  while   Great  Britain,  herself,  with  the  same 
policy  and  ardor  that  marked  her   illicit  trade  with  l-ianre 
5»lien  France  was  her  enemy,  encourages  a  clandestine  tratti* 
between  her  subjectB  and  the  Ani«rican  citizens,  *t'««ver  her 
possessions  came  in  contact  with  the  territory  of  the  U.  ^tate8. 
But  approaching  nearer  to  the  scenes  of  plunder  an«  violence 
•f  cruelty  and  cond»gration,  which  the  BriUsh  warfare  "hih  t. 
on  the  coaat  of  the  United  States,  it  must  be  again  as^ked,  whu« 
acw  of  the  American  government,  of  its  ships  cf  war,  or  ot  us 
armies,  had  occurred,  or  were  even   alleg.  d,  as  a  pretext  for 
the    perpetration  of  this   series  of  outrages?     It  will  not  be 
asserted,  that  they  were  sanctioned  by  the  usages   of  moderu 
war;  because  the  sense  of  all  Europe  would  revolt  at  the  ass.r- 
tion.  It  will  not  be  said,  that  they  w^erethe  unauthon»td  excesses 
of  the  British  troops  ;  because  scarcely  an  act  of  plunder  und 
violence,  of  cruelty  and  conflagration,  has  been  committed,  ex- 
cept in  the  immediate  presence,  under  the  positive  orders  and 
with  the  personal  agency  ef  British  officers.     It  mi. si  not  be  a 
gain  insinuated,  that  they  were  provoked  by  the   Amt^rictn  .  x- 
ample;  because  it  has  been  ricmon«,u-ated,  that  all  suchin(*inu- 
ations  are  without  colour  and  without  proof     And,    alter  all, 
Ihe  dreadful  and  disgraceful  progress  of  the  British  arms,  wi  1 
b«  traced  as  the  effect  of  that  animosity,  ansing  out  of    i  ecol- 
lections  connected  with  the  American  revolution,  which  ha»  al- 
ready been  noticed ;    or,  as  the  effect  of   that  jealousy,  which 
the  commercial  enterprise,  and  native  resources    of  the  tinted 
Stales,  a.e  calculated  to  excite  m  the  councils  of 'a  nation, aim- 
ing at  universal  dominion  upon  the  ocean.  w  •     j 
In  the  month  of  April,  1813,  the  inhabitants  of  Toplar  Island, 
in  the  bay  of  Chesapeake,  were  pillaged ;  and  the  cattle  and  other 

'  '  i  he-  the  successive  f.lotk.idps  aiinonnccd  by  tlu-  Hi-itish  govemmc.V., 
tbd  the  successive  naval  coanrnwidei-s  on  tlie  Amtricaa  sration. 


5Z 

IVvo  utoclt   of  the  f  irmprs.  tieyotnl  what  tfie  enemy  eoniS' •**'•« 
move,  were  viuntiiilj-  killed  * 

Ilk  tiiu  Hniiif,  moiiLi)  of  April,  the  \'."}.arf.  the  jilore  atwl  th'a 
♦r^herv  at  rren'Mtuwn  laiiiliiiB:,  WiM't,  licMtroyid,  atj  itbe  private 
atove«,  and  ilora  houses,  in   the  viiiago  of   Fieachtown,  were 

burut.t 

In  the  same  month  of  April,  the  enemy  landed  repeatedly;  on 
Slinrp'9  fsliind,  and  m.-tdc  a  gtifit  ral  B-.veep  of  the  •lock,  allect- 
hi<i.  however,  to  p  .y  for  a  part  ol  it.|. 

On  the  3d  oi'  May,  1813,  the  town  of  Ilavredegrace  was  pil- 
laged and  bi.rnt  by  a  force  under  llie  commnnd  of  adniiral  CooW- 
burn.  The  Bi-itihh  ofCcors  heiug  aJmonistied,  "  ttaC  with  civf- 
lized  natit  ns  at  war,  pvivaU;  nrjperty  hadahvays  been  respect- 
ed." hastily  rephed,  'that  as  ih'ir  Amtricuiis  wanted  war,  tliey 
aVoiihi  now  feci  it^  elf  j.ils  ;  and  th:it  ilic  town  ulioald  f)e  lai<l  in 
ashes"  They  broke  the  windows  of  the  church  ;  they  p  vloined 
the  hoiistis  of  their  furniture  ;  they  stripped  women  and  cliil- 
dren  of  their  cloatbes:,  and  when  un  unfortunate  fetnale  com* 
pliiined  that  she  could  not  leave  her  house  with  her  little  chil- 
dren, she  wasunfeehngly  told,  "  that  her  houae  should  be  bwftt 
with  herself  a-d  children  in  it'll 

On  the  6th  of  i>iay,  1813,  Fvadericktown  and   Georgetown; 

s'fuHted  on  Sassafias  river  In  the  state  oi'  Maryland,  were  i>il- 

lageii  and  buint,  and  the  adjacent  country  watt  laid  waste,  by  a 

.  force  under  the  comn»aiid  of  admiral  Coi  lib'irn  ;  and  the  officfcr* 

%veri'  the  most  active  on  the  occasion  ^ 

Oil  tlio  2td  of  June,  1813,  the  British  f  .vers  made  an  attack 
upon  Ci'ancy  lohind.  with  a  vi-w  to  o  jtaso  ^o-^session  of  Nor- 
f<.ik,  which  the  commanding  olJierra.hs.i  p  omised,  in  case  oC 
euocefs,  togive  up  to  the  p.-iulfr  oi  th^:  troops.H  The  Uviti'^h. 
were  r.  pu.bcd;  but  enru^iedby  def  at  ;i.ul  disappointment,  their 
course,  was  directed  to  Hampton,  w'id  itiey  ent-red  on  t'  e  _ 
of  June,.  The  .-cruo  thnleuiued,  c.>.;e'=(ls  iill  i-jwer  of  fl"S(  np- 
tioii  ;  and  a  detuil  of  faoH  won'!  he  uffensiv  to  the  frelingc  of 
detunim,  a»  well  as  of  humuiiiv.  "A  d.ftncch  ss  and  unre- 
al','inp  t^.wn  was  given  up  to  indiscriminate  --iilug"  ;  thoufrli  <n- 
vili^ca  war  tolerates  this  only  as  to  fortified  places  cuTiod  by  aa- 
S!. -lit,  and  alter  ^uninions.  Individuals  male  ami  female,  were 
stripjicd  naked  ;  a  sick  man  was  stabbed  twice  in  the  hospital  ; 
another  sick  nuin  was  shot  in  his  l)ed,  and  in  the  arms  of  .lis 
wife,  who  w;ifi  also  wounded,  lonp;  after  t!v>  retreat  of  the  A  av 
Ti  ■  m  troops  ;  and  females,  the  married  and  the  single,  sulfered 

•  Sc'.'  tlic  (!c  Kisi'ioii  of  \Vm  Sr.irs  ,  '.    „ 

t  See  til.-  dip  ).iiioi!-  of  I'isby  Anderson  and  Cordeha  Pennington- 

t  sice  ,Iac(ili 'iitisnu'?  del). isitio.. 

l:^ee  thi-  d.p.  .siMon  of  William  T.  Kilpatrick,  James  >\ood,  Rosannk 
Moore  mil  R.  .\laii--field.  -    , 

-i  Set.-  tlie  drpo.itions  of  John  Stavclv,  Wihiain  Spe.ncer,  Joshua 
rV.>rd..!,uncs  ScynUoi.  R.HK.d  B..vM:.bv,  V.  IV  Ohii  dlricr,  loniittmn  f.reer.. 
wood,  .J  .liM  AM!  I,,  T.  K-lHM-i'.on,  M   \.<'mn".\ 1  .'.  'I'-  Vriizty 

t'  Soe  tietia-ui  li^iot'  ktlef  to  lU  acwelaxj-  oi  ww, daud  Hit  iid  »l  jm/,. 


4^ 

«n( 
lac 

tisi 
tu 
«n 
Bv 
•d 
-wl 
ell 
«fi 
of 

vr 

fai 
«h 
ail 

»ii 

■CO 

th 
fit 
sii 
•h 
yx 

to 
ei 
«li 
A 
B 
«( 

.ib: 

«( 
tt 
h 


1) 
A 

i\ 

»: 

IT 

ti 

1 

a: 

b 

t 


Che  ennrnj)  coals' •*•'•* 

rf.  the  store  atnl  th'a 
roy(  d,  atj  itbe  private 
at'  Fieachtown,  were 

landed  repeatedly  on 
',]}  of  the  ittock,  alVect- 

avredegrace  was  pil- 
unnd  of  adruiral  CooW- 
shed,  '•  ttaC  with  civf- 
d  always  been  re^pcct- 
uiis  wanted  war,  they 
:ovvn  «i}ioii!d  f)e  lai<l  in 
hurch;tlipy  p'Tloiiitd' 
ped  women  and  cliil- 
brtunate  female  conk^ 
e  with  her  little  cliil« 
houae  should  be  burat 

iwn  and  Georgetown; 
)i'  Maryland,  were  i«il~ 
y  was  laid  waste,  by  a 
ib'irn  ;  and  the  ol&cfcrs 

fi  ivcps  made  an  attack 
a, a  ^o-^session  of  Nor- 
l  g  omised,  in  case  ot 
troops.f  The  Hviti-jh- 
i  dmappoiiitment,  their 
iiiey  cnt-red  on  t'  e 
B  itll  >.v)wer  of  d''si  rip- 
nsiv    to  the  frr'ingf  of 

d'l'e.iiccl'  ss  ami  unre- 
ate  •>iiiug''  ;  tho'ifrl>  ci. 
id  places  cuTiod  by  as- 
male  aad  female,  were 

twice  in  the  hospital  ; 
ind  in  the  arms  of  ^Js 
li!>  retreat  of  the  A  .v> 
knd  tiie  single,  sulfeied 

Cordelia  Pennington. 

k,  James  Wood,  Rosanna. 

WiHiiiin   Spencer,  Josima 
!lui.  filrur,  loiiiitiian  GretT.' 
■  •1  .1.  T.  Vraziy. 
i  WW,  daUd  lU  id  at  JiUy,. 


m 

aiM-witrtmltv  of  personal  abuse  from  the  troopc  o'  ^^\*^*^' 
»„d  from  the  infatuated  negi-oc,  at  thc.i  ,n.t.j.at.uu    •*        1  h« 
fael  that  these  atrueili.^  were  comm.tted,  the  commander  of  the 
S    t.l>  fleet  admiral  Wurren.  and  the  comn.«.der  of  the  Br.. 
Ssh  troovF  .ir  SidM,-.v  B-ekwith,  admitted,  without  he8.lat.o..,ft 
lot  thev  reported,    «'»  ou  oli.er  cK-caMoa.,  to  the  nrnvorth  v  and 
Jnavailinii  pretext  of  a  justifiable  retaluttipn    It  was  sa.d  by  ihe 
British  (ieneraU  "  that  the  exc.ss.-8  at  Hampton,  were  occaMon- 
•d  by  an  ocenrrenee,  at  the  r.  eenl  alt.^mpt  at  Craney  island, 
^hen  tt.e  lirili«h  troops  in  a  ba  ge.  «unk  by  the  American  g.m« 
cluug  to  the  wreck  of  the  boat,  but  «evera]  Amencan.  waded 
««  fron)  Uie  i>^land.  tired  upon,  a-.d  shot  these  men.'      The  truth 
It  the  ..^ertion  w««  denied  ;  the  act,  if  U  had  been  perpetrated 
by  the  Aworicsin  troops,  wa-  promptly  disavoweu  by  th.H-  com- 
mander;   and  a  hoa.d  of   officers  apponded  to  mvestiga'.e  the 
facts,  after  stating  the  evidence,  re.pevtod  an  "  uubias^cd  upnnon, 
4hat  the  charge  ugaim-t  the  American  troopt<  was  unsupported-, 
ftnd  that  the  character  of   the  AmerH-ao  Koldiir  for  human.ty 
»nd  maguanimilv    had  niAbeen  comntitted,  but  on  the  contrary 
.confirmed  "ff     the  result  of -this  enquiry  was  liommunicat.d  to 
the  British  gcBeral ;  r.paratioa  wasdemand  d  ;  but  it  was  soon 
j)eroe»ved,  ihat  whatever  might  personally  be  the  liberal  dispo- 
iitions  of  that  officer,  no  adequate  reparation  could  be  made   as 
•he  conduct  of  hia  troops  was  directed  and  sanctioned  by  hii  g(x 

»i?.rnmcnt,ii||  .mi  r »   -vi* 

Ifturhig  the  period  of  these  transactions,  the  village  of  L.eT<i«- 
town,  nefcr  the  capes  of  the  Dehiv.are,  inhabited  chiefly  by  h^h- 
ermen  a«d  pilots,  and  the  village  of  Stonington,  seiit.id  upo» 
«he  shores  of  Connecticut,  were  Ui»sacce,^fully  bombarded.-- 
Armed  parties,  led  by  officers  of  rank,  landed  daily  from  th» 
fiiitish  squadron,  making  predatory  incursions  into  the  opfR 
country ;  rilling  and  burning  the  Louses  and  cottages  of  peace*, 
jblc  and  retired  families;  pillagjag  the  produce  of  the  planter 
and  the  farmer;  (their  tobacco,  their  grain,  and  their  cattle  p 
committing  violence  on  the  persons  of  the  unprotected  inhabi- 
tants  ;  seizing  upon  slaves,  wherever  they  could  be  found,  «• 
booty  of  war;  and  breaking  open  the  coffins  of  the  dead,  m 

••  See  the  tellers  from  Gen.  Tavlor  te  aihniral  Wwrren,  dated  the  39tfc 

«f  June,  181 J ;  to  ^n.  sir  Sidnt-v  UeckwiUi,  dated  ihc  4th  and  3lh  of  July, 

1813  i  t».the  secretary  trf  war,  dated  the  2d  of  July,  1813  i  and  to  capta* 

Meyers,  of  ihe  U^t  date.  .  ^  . .       „  _    ,  ,  ^ j 

See,  also,  the  letVer  from  Major  Crutchfield  to  CovernOT  IHrbour,  dated 
the  SOth  of  Jimc,  18J3  ;  the  ietters  IVom  Capt.  Cooper  to  hatenaiit  governor 
Mallnrv,  dattd  in  Jul}',  t813  i  the  rtpoit  of  .Messrs  <Jr,ffin  and  Lively  to 
major  Crutchfifld,  dated  the  4d»  of  July,  1813;  aiidcoi  PiU-kcrs  pubhca- 
tio:i  in  tlip  EiKHiirer  •: 

■H-  See  admiral  W:irren's  Jf^ter  to  peneral  Taylor,  d*<'d  the  29th  of  June, 
1813  i  8U'  a.d.y  Ueckwitii's  letter  lo  proeral  Taytor,  Miied  the  same  day  ; 
and  the  report  of  Captain  Meyers  to  pcr.eral  T.iylor  of  .Inly  2,  IBIS. 

n  Seiche  repoi'-  of 'he  proccedinffs  of  the  board  oTomcei's,  appointed 
bv  tlice-eneralnrdor,  (tf  tlvjlst  of  Jilv,  1813.  ,   ,     ,  ,     r 

■^iV.See  (reiieiid  '(Vlor's  letter  to  Sir  Suhity  Beckwith,  dated  the  5Ui  Of 
.taly.  lyiJi  and  the  aiiswti-  of  Uie  following  day. 


•^  '»• 


»•«  »l 


■aBuri'h  of  pliindef,  «r  eommittifig  robhery  on  tlje  altars  cf  4 
♦rJmrch  at  Cfiaplico,  St.  liiagoes,  and  Tttppabaiinock,  with  a  n»- 
■enligiotw  rago. 

ilirt  t  le  couHummation  of  Briiish  oatrage,  yot  rema-ns  to  be 
■tated,  frojn  the  awful  and  imp- riahable  meinorialH  ot"  the  capv 
■tal  at  Washinglon     ll  has  beenalea<J.y  observed,   hat  the  mas- 
jaere  of  the  AmericaB  pridoneri,  at  the  nver  Eaisiii,  oc'currejl 
in  January,  1813;  that  throughout  the  same  year,  the  de^olat. 
•ing  warfare  o'  Q,  Britain,  without  once  a  ledginc;  a  retaliatory 
•♦xcuse,  made  the  shere*  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  of  its  tnbuta- 
iry  rivers,  a  general  scene  of  ruin  and  distress;  and  that  in  the 
month  of  Febnwry,  1814,  sir  CJeorge  Prevost  himself,  acknow- 
Vedged,  that  the  measures  of  retaliation,  for  the  unauthorized 
turning  of  Newark,  in  December,  1«13,  aad  for  all  the  exces» 
tes  which  had  been  imputed  to  the  American  army,  was  at  ihiit 
time  full  and  comolntc.    The  Vnited  States,  indeed,  regarding; 
'■what  was  due  t»  their  ow»  character  ratber  than  -what  was  due 
toti»e  conduct  of  their  enemy,  had  forborne  to  aotheriiea  just 
retribution ;  and  even  disdained  to  place  the  destruction  of  N«w- 
*rk  to  reUUatory  account  fer  the  general  pillageandconflagration 
which  had  been  previously  perpetrated.     It  was  not  Without  as- 
lojiirthrocnt,  -therefore,  that  after  more  than  a  year  >ef  patient 
flufTering.  they  heard  it  anneuneed  in  Augtiiit,  1814,  that  the 
towns  and  districts  upon  their  ooast,  were  to  be  destroyed  ana 
iaid  waste,  i«  revenge  for  unspecified  and  unkmwn  acta  of  de- 
-atruction,  which  were  charged  againat  the  Aojerican  twp*  «« 
Upper  Canada.  The  letter  of  admiral  Cochrane  w«rs  dated  ob 
the  I8fch,  but  H  Was  net  received  until  the  31st <»f  August,  1814. 
In  the  intermediate  time,  the  enemy  debarked  a  body  of  about 
Ave  or  six  thousaad  troops  at  Benedie«^«m  the  Patiixent,  and  by 
a  sudden  aad  steady  march  throi^h  BladensbwK,  approached 
the  city  of  Washingtcm.     This  city  has  been  selected  for  the 
.eeatefthe  Amcricango-veiunment;  but  the  number  of  its  housei 
4oes  not    exflced  «0»,  epread  ever  an   extensive  site;     the 
whole  number  of  its  hihabitanta  does  not  exceed  «000 ;    an« 
the  adiaceet  eountry  is  thinly  pop»iUted.    Although  the  necee- 
eary  preoaiftions  had  beeut)rdered  %o  assemble  the  militia,  for 
the  defence  of  the  city,  a  variety  «(  ^attses  combined  to  render 
the  defence  tinsucceerful ;  and  the  «nemy  took  possession  off 
Wishington  on  the  evening  of  the  24th  «f  Aug»t,  1814     The 
commanders  of  the  British  force  held  at  that  time  admiral  Cocl* 
Tane's  deselatlng  order,  although  it  was  then  unknown  to  the  go- 
vernment and  the  peopl.-  of  the  United  States  ,J»"*  ««»«»<«>•  «* 
the  danger  of  so  distant  a  separation  from  the  Bnti^  fleet,  ana 
desirous'  bv  every  plausible  artifice,  to  dctw  the  citizens  from 
Hvinff  to  arms  against  the  invaders,   tWey  Asevowed  all  design 
•of  injuring  private  persons  'ind  property,  atid  eave  assmTincesc^ 
■prorecliott,  wherever  there  was  submission     General  Ross  aira 
admiral  (lockburn  then  proceeded  in  person  to  direct  and  super- 
intend the  bu8,i.(»sof  conflagration;  in  a  place  which  had  yiei* 
«d  to  their  arms  which  was  unfortified,  and  hy  which  no  hos- 
liUty  was  threatened.  They  set  fire  to  the  capitol,  wrtlim  whoe« 


•ty  on  tlje  iUars  cf  4' 
pabaiiiiock,  with  a  »ef 

ge,  yot  rema-'ns  to  be 
neinorialH  ot'  the  napv 
b»ervt>d, '  hat  the  mafl- 
nver  Raisin,  occurrcjl 
me  year,  the  de^olaU 
I  ledginc;  a  retnUatory 
ke,  and  oFits  tnbut»- 
itresB ;  and  that  in  ihe 
vost  himself,  acknow- 
)  for  the  unauthorraed 

and  for  ttll  the  excess 
can  artny,  was  at  thtit 
ktes,  indeed,  regardinfj 
er  than  'what  was  doe 
me  to  aathorixea  just 
ke  destruction  of  N«w- 
illageandconflRgration 
It  wa«  not  vi^thout  as- 
than  a  year  -of  patient 
Qgiiift,  I8U,  that  th6 
re  to  be  destroyed  anfl 
d  unknown  acta  of  d6> 
ie  American  troops  itt 
!!ochrane  wars  dated  ob 
s  Slst-of  August,  1814. 
rarked  a  body  of  about 
n  the  Patuxent,  and  by 
kdensbuTK,  approached 

been  selected  for  the 
he  number  of  its  housei 
I  extensive  site ;  the 
not  exceed  *000;  an* 
.  Although  the  neeee- 
!isem1>le  the  militia,  #ot 
ses  combined  to  render 
'my  took  pessession  of 
x>f  Aog«Bt,  1814  The 
that  time  adtnirel  Coch^ 
then  unknown  to  the  go- 
States  ;  but  cotwcioua  of 
>m  the  British  fleet,  and 

deter  th«  citizens  from 
fey  ^isfvowed  all  design 
r,  at»d  e  ave  assurances  of 
ion  General  Ross  aird 
rsen  to  direct  and  super- 
a  place  which  had  yield* 
1,  and  by  which  no  hos- 
lie  capitol,  wiiltia  wkwe 


walls  were  contained  the  halls  of  the  congress  of  the  United 
States,  the  hall  of  their  highest  tribunal  for  the  administration 

of  justice.  ♦*»•  "raliivofl  »f  tlits  leKi8lHtiir«>  »r>A  tha  natinnal  li- 
brary. They  set  fire  to  the  edifice,  which  the  United  States  had 
erected  for  the  residence  of  their  chief  magistrate.  And  they 
set  fire  to  tho  costly  and  extensive  buildings,  erected  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  principal  officers  of  the  government,  in  the 
transaction  of  the  public  business.  These  magnificent  monu- 
ments of  the  progress  of  the  arts,  which  America  had  borrow- 
ed from  her  parent  Europe,  with  all  the  testimonials  of  taste 
and  literature  which  they  contained,  were  on  the  memorable 
night  of  Jhe  24th  of  August,  consigned  to  the  flames,  while  Bri- 
tish officers  of  high  rank  and  command,  united  with  their  troops 
in  riotous  carousal,  by  the  light  of  the  burning  pile. 

But  the  character  of  the  incendiary  had  so  entirely  superced- 
ed the  character  of  the  soldier,  on  this  unparallelled  expedition 
that  a  great  portion  of  the  munitions  of  war,  which  had  not 
been  consumed,  when  the  navy  yard  was  ordered  to  be  destroy- 
ed upon  the  approach  of  the  British  troops,  were  left  untouched  • 
anu  an  extensive  foundery  of  cannon,  adjoining  the  city  oL 
Washington,  was  left  uninjured  ;  when  in  the  night  of  the  y3th 
ot  August,  the  army  suddenly  decamped,  and  returning,  with 
evident  marks  of  precipitation  and  alarm,  to  their  ships,  left 
the  interment  of  their  dead,  and  the  care  of  their  wounded  to 
the  enemy,  whom  they  had  thus  injured  and  insulted,  in  viola- 
tion ot  the  laws  of  civilized  war. 

The  counterpart  of  the  scene  exhibited  by  the  British  army 
was  next  exhibited  by  the  British  navy.  Soon  after  themidnighi 
light  ot  general  Ross  from  Washington,  a  squadron  of  Bri- 
tish ships  ot  war  ascended  the  Potomac  and  reached  the  town 
o.  A  exandna  on  the  27th  of  August,  1814.  The  magistrates, 
presuming  that  the  general  destruction  of  the  town  was  ii.tend- 
«1,  asked  on  what  terms  it  might  be  saved.  The  naval  com- 
nmnder  declured,  "  that  the  only  conditions  in  his  ,>ower  to  of- 
ter  were  such  as  not  only  required  a  surrender  of  all  naval  and 
!!"aM"«?ln°'''''  <P"^"«'»".'l  P"vate)  but  of  all  the  shipping; 
■M,d  ot  all  the  merchandise  in  the  city,  as  well  a.s  such  us  had  iJm 
removed  «„.cc  the  19th  of  August."  The  conditions,  Iheretb," 
aniounted  to  the  entire  plunder  of  Alexandria,  an  unto,  tilled 
^tt"oT'''Tr'"";7  order  to  save  the  buildings  from   de 

'r!    /  of  h,s  predatory  enterprize  in  triumph. 

«.w  l\!r7  '"''''*  *^''  narrative  is  passing  tVoiu  n  e  re-s  a 
»ew  letaiiatory  pretext  has  been  formed  to  cover  the  di.oraf  e  of 
the  c  one  which  was  transacted  at  Washington  In  tKdd,  ess 
t    IZ'luiS  f'"'  '"  '^l-P-vincialVrhament  ot  (  ana! 

iSnfn  .  '  ''  '^  J"f  retribution,  the  proud .  apilol  .'   Wa- 

An  f  i^.  7  ""P«'-'i="^«d  a  similar  fate  to  that  iraLt  .i  by  an 
Thi  t?wn  I7v  °r^"  ^'fif' ^^■^^'■nmeut  in  Upper  C.r.  d..  •-" 
Th«  town  of  York,  m  Upper  Canada,  was  taken  by  the  An.e. 


6!& 

yic&n  tfniy  under  th«  command  of  general  Dearborn,  on  the 
the  27th  of  April,  1813  ;•  and  it  was  evacuated  on  the  8uc- 
ceedinir  Ink  of  Mav;  althowah  U  ♦»••  'g*!"  vSoUoJ  for  «  dav  by 
in  &rican  ^^'dron  un^dor  the  command  of  commodore 
Chauncey,  on  the  4th  of  August.f  At  the  time  of  the  capture, 
the  enemy  on  his  retreat  set  fire  to  his  maeazine  and  the  inju- 
ry produced  by  the  explosion  was  great  and  extensive ;  but  nei- 
ther then  nor  on  the  visit  of  commodore  Chauncey,  was  any 
edifice  which  had  been  erected  for  civil  uses,  destroyed  by  the 
authority  of  the  military  or  the  naval  commander;  and  the  dcs- 
traction  of  such  edifices,  by  any  part  of  their  fow*' ^T'''"^ J  'jfrf 
been  a  direct  violation  of  the  positive  orders  which  they  had  is- 
sued. On  both  occasions,  indeed,  the  public  stores  of  the  ene- 
^y  were  authorised  to  be  seized,  and  his  Public  store  houses  to 
be  burnt;  but  :t  is  known  that  private  persons,  houses,  and  pro 
J^rty,  we're  left  uninjured.  If,  therefore,  ^'^  f^'^'Jl^^'J 
deem;  such  acts  inflicted  on  "the  seat  of  goven.n^«°*'"  ^ppe 
Canada"  similar  to  the  acts  which  were  perpetrated  at  \\  ash 

ington,  he  has  yet  to  perform  the  task  ^^  ^^^'J^^^^^K^'li^had 
similaritv  •  since  at  Wf  hineton  the  pubUc  edifice*  wtaicli  naa 
been  e"2t'ed  fTciv^l  u...  weiS  alone  ^^-troyed  while the^^^^^^^ 
tions  of  war,  and  the  fuunderies  of  ca«non,  remained  unto^^^^^^^^ 

If.  however,  it  be  meant  to  affirm,  ^J^V^LSJ^ie  bv  the 
crrtft^u^ti^e^  at;  the  c'j^l  tncSrlJsTOf  ic 

rCer'card'a  witlf  the  provincial  L^'^-^^'-y' -"«  ^Sel 
Jy  the  American  force;  it  is  an  occurrence  which  ha,  ^^^^^ 

before  presented  to  the  view  of  the  American  go%ernment  by 
its  own  officers    aa  a  matter  of  information ;  nor  by  any  ot  tt^R 
niliury  or  civil  authorities  of  Canada.  - -XhaSina^y3e: 
it  is  an  occurrence  which  no  American  commander  had  n^^^^^^^ 

command  the  ^^^'^'^""^J^^^^^^^  suspicion 

^  attnd^IS  ctt  ^so   0  g  a  c^onc^alment  ;^^^^^^^^ 
«o  strong  for  an  ;--f  ^^.t^^^  ----  "^   ^^- 

duct  imputed  to  the  American  ^y«^P'',^\lJ^eapitalSf  Upper 
every  fact,  which  had  o'^c"^*?  Vwu^t  I8n  »  Yet^ 
Canada,  in  themonths  of  Apn^*"/  AuguB^  I8r>  ^  *  ^^^^ 

then,  nor  at  any  antecedent  P«"°^'"°/  "f  iUaUiatory   pretext, 
was  the  slightest  if™^^\°"^;7f^5Url  XienandCoch- 

which  is  now  trd'inS^ganSbuintg  the  villages  on  the 
rane  w«re  employed  mpiiiab'"&'*'  =>  ,  .   i  ti,. 

-r^li;;,en.  .  ....Oe,-,.  Deavborn  to  d>e  secretary -f  war.dat^d  th. 

''f;rd''l!u;r'^n'c^-'^ovcGh.uncry.o  th«  .ecruury  of  the  navv. 
datod  Oie  4th  oi'  August,  181J-  . 


ahor 

fort 

yet, 

vern 

or  ei 

gurt, 

was 

cani 

to  a< 

callc 

sure 

And 

nooi 


any 
wha 
ban 
Stat 
the 
alle 
tion 
civi 
too 
seni 
eri 
the 
cosi 
tair 
tioT 
the 


the 

fori 

at  1 

ma 

of 

api 

def 

cor 
mij 

the 


sral  Dearborn,  on  the 
evacuated  on  the  sue- 
in  vioitoai  Sof  a  dav  by 
tmand  of   commodore 
ho  time  of  the  capture, 
lagazine   and  the  inju- 
ind  extensive ;  but  nei- 
re  Chauncey,  wa«  any 
uses,  destroyed  by  the 
nmaoder ;  and  the  dcs- 
:heir  force,  would  have 
iers  which  they  had  is- 
iblic  stores  of  the  ene- 
}  public  store  houses  to 
jrsons,  houses,  and  pro 
ve,  sir  George  Prevost 
f  gove?  oment  in  Uppe-' 
1  perpetrated  at  Wash 
'  tracing  the  features  of 
iblic  edifice*  which  had 
ilroyed,  while  the  muni- 
n,  remained  untouched- 
hat  the  public  edifices, 
hief  magistrate,  by  the 
ionaries  of  the  province 
[library,  were  destroyed 
se  which  has  never  been 
mevican  government  by 
tion;nor  by  any  of  the 
as  matter  of  complaint  i 
>mmander  had  in  any  de- 
m  occuncnee  which  the 
8ured  and  repaired  with 

I  special  purpose,  canni 
rent  and  the  candid  au- 
'ation  be  true,  suspicion 
ncealment,  with  motives 
When  Sir  George  Pre- 
hat  the  measure  of  ra- 
the preceeding  miscon- 
,  was  he  not  apprised  ot 
k  the  capital  of  Uppci- 
,guBt,l81.''>?  Yet,  neither 

.  until  the 2Uh  Jan.  1815 
the  retalliatory  pretext, 
lirals  Warren  and  Coch- 
irningthe  villages  on  the 

e secretary. -f  war, dated  the 
^0  th«  secrjtsryofthenav.v. 


6S 

r»u.  rhwaneake  were  not  all  the  retalliatory  pretext^ 

Aore,  «J  *J:«^,^;f'3i.e'^„ow^  to  those  commander.  ?    And 
for  the  barbarous  wariareioio  ^^^  ^^^^^^ 

yet.  "the  f^'^'''^'''^i^.^±^!!^!^^t»ttdin  justification 
Jernment  in  Upijr  C^«»^J;  7^^^^^^^^  J„,a  i,  Au- 

^nSi  fortheJeS;^^^^^^^ 

gurt,l»i*,«orMio  been  inflicted  by  an  Amer- 

was  not  the  '  """"JJ^JJ^^^J^n^^^jn  Upper  Canada,"  known 
canforceontheseatof  Oovejnmem  ^^^^^^^    ^^^ 

to  admiral   ^°«^*»'*"^„f^'*;!' '  J'  edl   to  carr?  into  efVpct  mea- 
calledupon  f^e  adm.ra^^(it  .^^^^^^^^^^  ^^.^^^  g^^,^^, 

!."T  "?  Wh   the  c!7an^^^^^^^^  "«  »«""'*«*»  ^"°* 

And  yet.  ^o  h  the  caU,  «"<»  ^|^^^,  ^^  y^rk.  but)  upon 

'"""  ant'o;  de^trSoH  c^^^^         »>y  the  American  army  in  Up. 
inada  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  province,  lor  whom  a- 

::CSmi"  ?rS:*upon  the  fact  alledged  by  Sir  G, 
0 St  wSich^has  nit  been  dissipated  by  enquiry     VV  he  her 
any   public  edifice  was  improperly  destroyed  at  Yo'-k    «    f 
what  neriod  the  injury  was   done,  if  done  at  all,  and  b\  \v  hat 
hand  ^t  was  incited,   are   points  that  ought  to  l.avc    been 
Sed  when  the  charge  was  made;   surely  it    is  enough   on 
?Le  parT  of  the  American  government  to  repeat,  that  the  fact 
llleled  was  never  before  brought  to  its  knowlegc,  for  .nvest.ga- 
?i^nfd1savowal  or  reparation.    The  ^^--;^- f'^^J^'';:g;^f 
civil  officers  of  the  provincial  government  of  Canada,  'ndicatts, 
?inL  n^se  of  shame,  or  a  conviction  of  the  injustice  of  the  pre- 
e^t  reproach      It  is'known.that  there  could  have  been  no  oth- 
erpu^Hc  edifice  for  civil  uses  destroyed  in  Upper  Canada,     .Ai 
Se^iouse  of  the  provincial  legislature,  a  building  of  so  httle 
cost  and  ornament;  as  hardly  to  merit  consideration  ;  and  cer- 
tainlv  affording  neither  parallel  nor  apology,  for  the  conflagra- 
tlon  of  the  splendid  structures,  which  adorned  the  metropo  .s  of 
the  United  States.     If,  however,  that  house  was  indeed  destroy- 
mav  it  not  have  been  an  accidenUl  consequence  ot  the  con- 
)u    in  which  the  explosion  of  the  magazine  involved   the 
1?    Or.   perhaps  it  was  hastily  perpetrated  by    some  ot 
inraged  troops  in  the  moment  of  anguish,  for  the  loss  ot  a 
/ed  conmander,  and  their  companions,  who  had  been  kil- 
,.u  .,y  that  explosion,  kindled  as  it  was  by  a  defeated  enemy,  for 
the  sansuiuary  and  unavailing  purpose :  Or,  in  line,   some  sut- 
ferinz  individual,   remembering  the  slaughter  ot  his   brethren 
at  the  river  Raisin,   and  exasperated  by  the  spectacle  of  a  hu- 
man scalp,  suspended  in  the  legislative  chamber,    over  the  seat 
of  the  speaker,  may,  in  the  paroxysm  of  his  vengeance,  have 
applied,  unaalhorised  and  unseen,  the  toi-ch  of  vengeance  and 
destruction.  ,  .,,  , 

\Iany  other  flagrant  instaa-es  of  British  violence,  pillage  and 
conflagration,  in  defiance  of  the  laws  of  civiliaed  hostilities 
mi"-ht  beadded  to  the  catalogue,  whi>h  has  beenexhib.tefl ;  but 
r,he°eauiaevation  wguld  be  superflaous,  and  it  is  time  to  close  so 


fy 


{jtinful  au  expaiiiion  of  the  causes  and  cliaractcp  of  thp  war.*. 
Tlirt  expoiifion  had  become  necessary  to  repel  and  refuie  fh; 
charges  of  ui.  Prince  Regent,  when  by  hi»  tfeclai-ation  of  Jan- 
uary, 1813,  he  unjustly  «ti»tci!  the  Vnitcd  Stitps  to  hi-  the  aggro«- 
Bors  inlhe  war  ;  and  insultin^^iy  aicriheM  the  conduct  oftTiu  A 
merican  government  to  the  inlluencc  of  Krem-h  cotincilu.     It 
was  aUo  necessary  to  vindicate  t!ie  course  of  the  United  States 
in  the  prosecution  of  the  war  ;  and  to  eypo.«"(  to  the  view  .»t'tho 
world,  the  barbarous  system ot  hostilities,  which  the  British  go- 
vernment has  pursued.     Having  actompiished   lhf.-e  piupusof 
the  American  government  recurs  with  pIcuHure  to  a  coiii(in|>la. 
tion  of  it*  early  and  continued  efforts,    for  the   resloru'ion  of 
peace.     Notwithstanding  the  pressure  of  recent  wrongs,  ano  iho  . 
unfriendly  and  illiberal  disposition,   which  (J rent  Hrituin.has, 
at  all  times,  nianifcnted  towards  ti»em,  the  United  Status   have 
never  indulged  tientinients  ineonc^atihle  with  the  rociirocity  of 
good  will,  and  an  intercourse  of  mutual  benelit  and  advaniage. 
They  can  never  fepme,  at  seeing  the  British  nation  great,  pros- 
perous and  happy  ;  safe  in  its  maritime  rights  :  and  jxiwoi  foj  ju 
its  means  ot  maintaining  them  ;  hut  nt  the  same  time,  they  can 
never  cease  to  desire,  that  the  councils  of  Gn'ut  Ihitain  nhoiilJ 
be  guided  by  justice,  and  a  respect  for  the  equal  ri^lit:*  of  other 
nations.      Her  maritime  power  may   extend  to  all  the  legiti- 
mate  objects  of  her  sovereij^nty,  and   her  con»nieic«,   witJioot 
endangering  the  independence  and  peace  of  every  other  govcin- 
ment     A  biillance  of  power  in  this  respect,  isas  ne(e'454ty   on 
"he  ocean  as  on  the  land  :  and  the  controul  tiiat  it  ^^ivoj*  tu  t'li 
jiations  of  the  woWd,  over  the  actions  of  each  ci  he;*,  in  a>i  sal  jta. 
1*5'  in  it»  operation  to  the  individual  government,  nluu.'i  l',:ils  it 
as  to  all  the  govrnm  ents,  by  whii^h,  on  the  just  print  'plew  of  nic. 
tual  Hupport  and  defence  it  may  lie  exercised.    On  fair  and  e((ua' 
and  honorable  terms,  thereiore,  peac'e  is  at  the  choice  (if  Great 
Britain  ;  but  if  she  still  determine  uiH)n  war,  the  United  States 
reposing  upon  the  justness  of  tlieir  cause  ,  and  upon  the  pairi 
otism  of  their  citizens  ;   upon   the  distinguislied  valour  of  their 
land  and  naval  forces  ;  and  above  all,  upon  the  dispensationi*  of 
divine  providence;  are  ready  to  maintain  the  contest,   for  the 
preservationof  tiie  national  independence,  with  llie  same  encc- 
sry  and  fortitude,  which  were  displayed  in  acquiring  it. 

Wixshln^ton.  Fihrxxav^  10,  1815. 


'J  cliaractop  of  tf  f  vhr.^ 
to  repel  and  refuie  fh; 
)y  hi»  tieclai-ation  of  Jan- 
:d  Stitp*  to  bf  the  aggro' 
hes  th«  conduct  ot  th«j  A 
:  of  Kreri.-h  cotincila.     If. 
iir«e  of  the  United  afates 
eypoM  to  the  view  .>t'rho 
ics,  which  the.  Britihli  go- 
rnpiislied   thi-.^e  puiposv.t, 
I  pleiiHure  to  a  coiit(in|i|u- 
»,    for  the   fesloru'ion  of 
of  recent  wrongs,  an)  tlio  » 
which  (J rent  Hntuin.hai*, 
,  the  United  Htatos   have 
le  with  the  rociir  ocity  of 
lal  henclit  »nd  udvaniage. 
Jritisli  nation  gi'eat,  pros- 
e  rights  ;  and  [xiwei  ful  iu 
t  the  same  time,  th'iy  can 
s  of  Gri'.ut  IJritain  nhoiilJ 
'  tlie.  equal  ri^ht:*  of  other 
extend  to  all  the  lef^iti- 
her  comniercfl,   witJioot 
ce  of  every  oilier  govern- 
spect,  isas  ne(  P'lsdty   on 
itroul  tiiat  it  j^ivoj*  I.d  t'li 
f  each  ('(lie;*,  irt  as  xal  ita. 
overnmen!;,  wluu.'i  I'.iiU  it 
the  j'lit  principles  of  nic. 
•cisL'd.    On  fa'if  and  f?(|uaf 
is  at  the  choice  cf  Great 
n  war,  the  United  States 
ihc  ,  and  upon  the  pair! 
inguishcd  valour  of  their 
ipon  the  disppnsatioiiw  of 
tain  the  contest,   for  the 
ice,  with  llie  same  encc- 
i  in  acquiring  it, 


I 


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